Pope Benedict XVI - June 28, 2005: "The Compendium, which I now present to the Universal Church, is a faithful and secure synthesis of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It contains, in a concise manner, all the essential and fundamental elements of the Church's faith, in such a way that it constitutes, as my Predecessor desired, a kind of vademecum, through which people, whether believers or not, can grasp at a single glance the complete panorama of the Catholic faith.

The Compendium faithfully reflects, in its structure, content, and language, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which can be better known and understood thanks to the help and encouragement of this synthesis."

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - March 20, 2005: "Forty years after the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council and in the Year of the Eucharist, the Compendium can serve as an additional instrument to satisfy both the hunger for truth of the faithful of every age and condition and the need of those who, without being believers, thirst for truth and justice. Its publication will take place on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, pillars of the universal Church and exemplary evangelizers in the ancient world. These apostles saw what they preached and bore witness to the truth of Christ even to martyrdom. Let us imitate them in their missionary zeal and pray to the Lord that the Church may always follow the teachings of the Apostles, from whom she received the first joyful proclamation of the faith."