Bari, Italy, May 29, 2005 / 22:00 pm
During his apostolic trip to Bari yesterday morning to close the 24th Italian Eucharistic Congress, Pope Benedict XVI promised his “full commitment” to reestablishing “the full and visible unity of all Christ's followers."
Speaking on the need Christians have for the Eucharist and the Sunday celebration, the Holy Father told the gathered 200,000 that the Christ who we encounter in the Sacrament of the Eucharist "is the one and same Christ present in the Eucharistic bread all over the world.”
“This means”, he said, “we can encounter Him only together with everyone else. We can only receive Him in unity."
He said that "The consequence of this is clear--we cannot communicate with the Lord if we do not communicate with one another. ... For this it is necessary to learn the great lesson of forgiveness: do not let resentment gnaw at the soul, but open your hearts to the magnanimity of listening to others."