During the Angelus, the pope explained why it is important to receive Communion? Francis said that, through the Eucharist, one enters into communion with Christ and his humanity, participating in eternal life.
POPE FRANCIS
“Every time we take part in Holy Mass, we anticipate, in a certain sense, Heaven on earth, because from the Eucharistic food, the Body and Blood of Jesus, we learn what eternal life is.”
Before 20,000 pilgrims present in St. Peter's square, the pope said that participating in the Eucharist also makes people care more about others.
POPE FRANCIS
“The Eucharist molds us so that we don’t live only for ourselves but for the Lord and for brothers. Happiness and eternal life depend on our capacity to make fruitful the evangelical love we receive in the Eucharist.”
For this reason, the pope insisted on the importance of communion, in order to be able to act as Christ himself would.
POPE FRANCIS
“When we go to Communion we receive the very life of God. To have this life it’s necessary to be nourished by the Gospel and by the love of brothers.” “By nourishing ourselves with this food, we can enter into full harmony with Christ, with His sentiments and His behavior.”
After praying the Angelus, Francis wanted to show his closeness to the inhabitants of the state of Kerala, in India, where horrendous floods have caused hundreds of deaths and thousands of displaced people.
POPE FRANCIS
“May these brothers of ours not lack our solidarity and the concrete support of the International Community. I am close to the Church in Kerala, which is in the front line to bring help to the population.”
He asked the pilgrims in St. Peter's square to join him in praying a Hail Mary for all who have suffered this tragedy.
