By performing a miracle in the celebration at Cana, we see Jesus' benevolence toward the spouses, he said, adding that love shared between a man and a woman "is therefore a good path in living the Gospel."
However, he noted that the miracle at Cana doesn't just involve the spouses, and affirmed that "every human person is called to encounter the Lord as the Bridegroom of their lives."
The story of the Wedding Feast, he said, is a reminder that Jesus doesn't come to us as a judge ready to condemn us for our faults or as a commander who forces us to blindly follow his orders.
Instead, the Lord "is manifested as the Bridegroom of humanity: as the one who responds to the expectations and promises of joy that live in the heart of each one of us."
Francis then questioned those present as to how well the understand Jesus in this role, asking "do I really know the Lord as this? Do I feel that he is the Bridegroom of my life? Am I responding to the wavelength of that spousal love that he manifests each day to me and to every human being?"
He encouraged attendees to reflect on how Jesus both seeks us out and invites us to make room for him in the depth of our hearts.
The Pope then noted that to do this is a journey, but one in which Jesus "has not left us alone." To help us, Jesus has given us his flesh in the Eucharist, as well as the other sacraments, which "instill in us supernatural strength and allow us to savor the infinite mercy of God."
Pope Francis concluded his address by praying Mary would intercede in helping us to rediscover "the beauty and the richness" of each of the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, which "make present the faithful love of God for each of us."
After leading pilgrims in the Angelus, Francis then offered his prayers for the victims of the recent terror attacks in Indonesia and Burkina Faso.
"May the Lord welcome them into his house, and sustain the commitment of the international community in building peace," he prayed, and led pilgrims in offering a Hail Mary for these intentions.
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.