Vatican City, Jun 19, 2005 / 22:00 pm
From his office window, Pope Benedict XVI reminded all the people gathered to hear him in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday that Christian charity and self-donation are nourished in the Eucharist.
During the recitation of the Angelus, the Pope reflected on the relation between Christian donation and the Sacrament of the Eucharist and underscored that “the loving attention of Christians towards those in difficulty and their commitment for a more solidary society are continually nourished by active and aware participation in the Eucharist", said the Holy Father.
“Anyone who faithfully nourishes him or herself with Christ, assimilates His own life’s style, which is that of an attentive service. Active charity, in fact, is a criterion that gives evidence of the authenticity of our liturgical celebrations,” the Pope Benedict noted.
The Pope also reminded the pilgrims of today’s celebration of “World Day of the Refugee” and said that “the Christian community feels close to those who live in this painful condition: it tries to support them and, in different ways, demonstrate love and interest, translated into concrete gestures of solidarity so that each person who is far from his homeland feels that the Church is their homeland where no one is a stranger.”