At noon today, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study at the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the expected Sunday gathering.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning.
This Sunday's gospel (Jn 6:1-15) presents the great scene of the multiplication of the loaves according to the accounting of John the Evangelist. Jesus is on the banks of the Sea of Galilee, and is surrounded by a great crowd, attracted by signs he was performing for the sick (Jn 6:2). He acts with the merciful power of God, healing the recipients from every bodily and spiritual ill. But Jesus is not only a healer, he is also a master: in fact, he climbs the mountain and sits down, with the attitude typical of a teacher who teaches: he sits upon his cathedra, created by his heavenly Father. At this point, Jesus, who knows very well what he is about to do, puts his disciples to the test. How are they to feed so many people? Philip, one of the Twelve, makes a quick calculation: he organizes a collection, and estimates that they can collect a maximum of two hundred denarii, in order to by bread, which however would never be enough to feed five thousand people.
The disciples think in marketing terms, but Jesus replaces the logic of purchasing with another logic, the logic of giving. Thus Andrew, another of the Apostles, the brother of Simon Peter, finds a young boy who brings forward all that he has: five loaves and two fish, but certainly - says Andrew - this is nothing when compared with the size of the crowd (cf Jn 6:9). But Jesus was waiting precisely for this. He commands the disciples to seat the people, then he takes the bread and the fish, gives thanks to the Father and distributes them (cf Jn 6:11). These actions anticipate those of the Last Supper, when Jesus gives bread its true meaning. The bread of God is Jesus himself. In Communion with Him, we receive his life in us and we become children of our heavenly Father and brothers and sisters with one another. Through this Communion we encounter the truly living and risen Jesus! Participating in the Eucharist signifies our entrance into the logic of Jesus, the logic of gratitude of sharing. And to all those who are poor, we can give something. Entering into Communion, also means drawing from Christ the grace that makes us capable of sharing what we have and what we are with others.
The crowd is amazed by the prodigious multiplication of the loaves; but the gift that Jesus offers is the fullness of life for man who is hungry. Jesus satisfies not only material hunger but the deeper hunger, the hunger for a sense of life, hunger for God. Faced with the suffering, solitude, poverty and difficulties of so many people, what can we do? Complaining doesn't solve anything, but we can offer the little that we have, like the young boy in the Gospel. We certainly have a few hours of time, some talent, some ability ... Who among us does not have five loaves and two fish? We all have them! If we are ready to place them into the hands of the Lord, that will be enough because there will be a bit more love in the world, a bit more peace, a bit more justice and especially a bit more joy. Oh, how we need joy in our world! God can multiply our small gestures of solidarity and make them partakers in his gift.
May our prayer support our common commitment to ensure that no one ever is short of the Bread of heaven that is the promise of eternal life and all that is needed for a dignified life: the affirmation of the logic of sharing and love. May the Virgin Mary accompany us with her maternal intercession.
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today, the registrations for the thirty-first World Youth Day are open, a meeting that will take place next year in Poland. I myself wanted to open the registrations; for this reason, I have invited a young man and a young woman to stand beside me today, so that they could be with me at the moment when the registrations are opened, here in front of us. (Note: the Pope clicked on the keypad of an IPad which was offered to him). There, I am now registered for the Day as a pilgrim by means of this electronic device. Celebrated during the Year of Mercy, this Day will be, in a certain sense, a jubilee of youth, called to reflect on the theme: Blessed are the merciful, for they will find mercy (Mt 5:7). I invite the youth of the world to come on this pilgrimage either by coming to Krakow or by participating in this moment of grace in their own communities.
In a few days' time, we will mark the second anniversary since, in Syria, Father Paolo Dall'Oglio was captured. I want to make an urgent and heartfelt appeal for the release of this esteemed priest. Neither can I forget the Orthodox Bishops who were captured in Syria and all the other persons who, in various war zones, have been sequestered. I am hopeful for renewed commitment on the part of competent local and international Authorities, that our brothers may soon have their freedom restored. With affection and sharing their suffering, I wish to remember them in prayer; let's all pray for them right now: Hail Mary ...
I greet all of you, pilgrims who have come from various parts of Italy and from other countries. I greet the international pilgrimage of the Sisters of San Felice, the faithful from Salamanca, the youth from Brecia who are helping at the Caritas soup kitchen here in Rome, and the youth from Ponte San Giovanni (Perugia).
Today, July 26, the Church recalls Saint Joachim and Saint Ann, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and therefore the grandparents of Jesus. On this occasion, I want to greet all grandfathers and grandmothers, and I want to thank them for their precious presence in families and for the sake of younger generations. Let us offer a greeting and applause for all living grandparents and for all those who watch us now from heaven.
I wish you all a good Sunday. Please don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch. Good bye!
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning.
This Sunday's gospel (Jn 6:1-15) presents the great scene of the multiplication of the loaves according to the accounting of John the Evangelist. Jesus is on the banks of the Sea of Galilee, and is surrounded by a great crowd, attracted by signs he was performing for the sick (Jn 6:2). He acts with the merciful power of God, healing the recipients from every bodily and spiritual ill. But Jesus is not only a healer, he is also a master: in fact, he climbs the mountain and sits down, with the attitude typical of a teacher who teaches: he sits upon his cathedra, created by his heavenly Father. At this point, Jesus, who knows very well what he is about to do, puts his disciples to the test. How are they to feed so many people? Philip, one of the Twelve, makes a quick calculation: he organizes a collection, and estimates that they can collect a maximum of two hundred denarii, in order to by bread, which however would never be enough to feed five thousand people.
The disciples think in marketing terms, but Jesus replaces the logic of purchasing with another logic, the logic of giving. Thus Andrew, another of the Apostles, the brother of Simon Peter, finds a young boy who brings forward all that he has: five loaves and two fish, but certainly - says Andrew - this is nothing when compared with the size of the crowd (cf Jn 6:9). But Jesus was waiting precisely for this. He commands the disciples to seat the people, then he takes the bread and the fish, gives thanks to the Father and distributes them (cf Jn 6:11). These actions anticipate those of the Last Supper, when Jesus gives bread its true meaning. The bread of God is Jesus himself. In Communion with Him, we receive his life in us and we become children of our heavenly Father and brothers and sisters with one another. Through this Communion we encounter the truly living and risen Jesus! Participating in the Eucharist signifies our entrance into the logic of Jesus, the logic of gratitude of sharing. And to all those who are poor, we can give something. Entering into Communion, also means drawing from Christ the grace that makes us capable of sharing what we have and what we are with others.
The crowd is amazed by the prodigious multiplication of the loaves; but the gift that Jesus offers is the fullness of life for man who is hungry. Jesus satisfies not only material hunger but the deeper hunger, the hunger for a sense of life, hunger for God. Faced with the suffering, solitude, poverty and difficulties of so many people, what can we do? Complaining doesn't solve anything, but we can offer the little that we have, like the young boy in the Gospel. We certainly have a few hours of time, some talent, some ability ... Who among us does not have five loaves and two fish? We all have them! If we are ready to place them into the hands of the Lord, that will be enough because there will be a bit more love in the world, a bit more peace, a bit more justice and especially a bit more joy. Oh, how we need joy in our world! God can multiply our small gestures of solidarity and make them partakers in his gift.
May our prayer support our common commitment to ensure that no one ever is short of the Bread of heaven that is the promise of eternal life and all that is needed for a dignified life: the affirmation of the logic of sharing and love. May the Virgin Mary accompany us with her maternal intercession.
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today, the registrations for the thirty-first World Youth Day are open, a meeting that will take place next year in Poland. I myself wanted to open the registrations; for this reason, I have invited a young man and a young woman to stand beside me today, so that they could be with me at the moment when the registrations are opened, here in front of us. (Note: the Pope clicked on the keypad of an IPad which was offered to him). There, I am now registered for the Day as a pilgrim by means of this electronic device. Celebrated during the Year of Mercy, this Day will be, in a certain sense, a jubilee of youth, called to reflect on the theme: Blessed are the merciful, for they will find mercy (Mt 5:7). I invite the youth of the world to come on this pilgrimage either by coming to Krakow or by participating in this moment of grace in their own communities.
In a few days' time, we will mark the second anniversary since, in Syria, Father Paolo Dall'Oglio was captured. I want to make an urgent and heartfelt appeal for the release of this esteemed priest. Neither can I forget the Orthodox Bishops who were captured in Syria and all the other persons who, in various war zones, have been sequestered. I am hopeful for renewed commitment on the part of competent local and international Authorities, that our brothers may soon have their freedom restored. With affection and sharing their suffering, I wish to remember them in prayer; let's all pray for them right now: Hail Mary ...
I greet all of you, pilgrims who have come from various parts of Italy and from other countries. I greet the international pilgrimage of the Sisters of San Felice, the faithful from Salamanca, the youth from Brecia who are helping at the Caritas soup kitchen here in Rome, and the youth from Ponte San Giovanni (Perugia).
Today, July 26, the Church recalls Saint Joachim and Saint Ann, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and therefore the grandparents of Jesus. On this occasion, I want to greet all grandfathers and grandmothers, and I want to thank them for their precious presence in families and for the sake of younger generations. Let us offer a greeting and applause for all living grandparents and for all those who watch us now from heaven.
I wish you all a good Sunday. Please don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch. Good bye!
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