Pope speaks about the Eucharist’s mystical and communal effect, appeals and prays for the tragic situation in Libya
During the Angelus in St Peter's Square, Pope Francis underlined the "renewing force" of the Eucharist thanks to presence of Jesus and his being "an effective sign of unity, of communion, of sharing". Anxious and sad over the war in Libya, the Pope appealed to international organisations to restart the peace proces. Concerned about the “precarious conditions" that make the refugees in that country "more vulnerable to forms of exploitation and violence,” the pontiff goes on to say that "We all bear responsibility in this, no one can feel dispensed” from it.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – On Sunday when the Church celebrated the Solemnity of Corpus Domini in Italy and other countries (traditionally on the second Thursday after Pentecost celebrates), Pope Francis stressed the mystical and communal effect produced by the “shared chalice" and the “broken bread ".
The pontiff expressed his thoughts before the Angelus in the presence of the faithful gathered in St Peter's square. Earlier in the morning he celebrated the solemn Mass in the basilica. After the Angelus prayer, he made an appeal for the tragic “situation in Libya".
Speaking about the second readings from today’s Mass (1 Cor 10:16-17), the Pope explained that “the mystical effect” of the Eucharist "relates to the union with Christ, who in the bread and the wine offers Himself for the salvation of all. Jesus is present in the sacrament of the Eucharist to be our nourishment, to be assimilated and to become in us that renewing force that gives energy and the desire to set out again after every pause or fall. But this requires our assent, our willingness to let ourselves be transformed – our way of thinking and acting. Otherwise the Eucharistic celebrations in which we participate are reduced to empty and formal rites.”
The communal effect concerns “the mutual communion of those who participate in the Eucharist, to the point of becoming one body together, in the same way that one loaf is broken and distributed. Communion with the body of Christ is an effective sign of unity, of communion, of sharing. One cannot participate in the Eucharist without committing oneself to sincere mutual fraternity. But the Lord knows well that our human strength alone is not enough for this. On the contrary, He knows that there will always be the temptation of rivalry, envy, prejudice, division... among His disciples. For this reason too, He left us the Sacrament of His real, tangible and permanent Presence, so that, remaining united to Him, we may always receive the gift of fraternal love.”
The “union with Christ and communion between those who are nourished by Him, generates and continually renews the Christian community. [. . .] Therefore, it is true that the Church makes the Eucharist, but it is more fundamental that the Eucharist makes the Church, and allows her to be her mission, even before she accomplishes it.”
Following the Marian prayer, Pope Francis expressed angst and sadness over the tragic “situation in Libya,” which has been “present in my prayer in recent days”.
In recent years, the country has been embroiled in violence between the internationally-recognised government of Fayez al-Sarraj, and rebel General Khalifa Haftar. The conflict recently escalated following Turkey’s intervention to prop up al Sarraj, and Russia’s support for Haftar, who is also supported by France and the United Arab Emirates.
The pontiff urged “international bodies and those who have political and military responsibilities to recommence, with conviction and resolve, the search for a path towards an end to the violence, leading to peace, stability and unity in the country.
“I also pray for the thousands of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons in Libya. The health situation has aggravated the already precarious conditions in which they find themselves, making them more vulnerable to forms of exploitation and violence. I call on the international community to take their plight to heart, identifying pathways and providing means to provide them with the protection they need, a dignified condition and a future of hope.”
Francis ended speaking off the cuff: "Brothers and sisters, we all bear responsibility in this; no one can feel dispensed” from it. He then invited those present to a minute of silent prayer "for Libya”.
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13/11/2018 18:49
08/11/2021 19:21
