A plea is then made by the priest for all members of the Church, both living and dead, the Pope said, explaining that "no one and nothing is forgotten in the Eucharistic Prayer, as the doxology which concludes it recalls."
While this "codified formula" can seem a bit "distant," he said, "surely we will participate better" if we understand the meaning of it. He added that the Eucharistic Prayer not only expresses everything that is done during Mass, but it also cultivates the "three attitudes that should never be lacking in the disciples of Jesus."
These attitudes, he said, are to give thanks "always and everywhere, not just on certain occasions when everything is going well"; to make our lives a "gift of love"; and to build a concrete communion "in the Church and with everyone."
The Eucharistic Prayer, then, which is the center of the Mass, teaches faithful "little by little to make our whole lives a 'eucharist,'" which is an "act of thanksgiving," he said.
After his address, Pope Francis made an appeal for parishes around the world to join him in participating in this week's "24 Hours for the Lord" event, which will take place March 9 and is a worldwide initiative launched in 2014 to highlight confession as a primary way to experience God's mercy.
He also gave a shout-out to the March 9 opening of the Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, where the Winter Olympics recently took place.
Having brought together delegations from both North and South Korea despite their ongoing conflict, the games, Francis said, are an example of how "sport can draw bridges between countries in conflict and give a valid contribution to perspectives of peace between people."
"Sports thus appear as a school of inclusion, but also of inspiration for one's own life and of commitment to transforming society," he said, and offered a personal greeting to the International Paralympic Committee and the athletes who will participate in the games.
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.