On Sunday, Pope Francis greeted the faithful on Sunday who were gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly Angelus address where he reminded the faithful to put their trust in Divine Providence.
The Holy Father spoke on the feast of Corpus Domini which, although celebrated on Thursday in Italy, was celebrate on Sunday in other countries.
Referring to the Gospel on the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, Pope Francis reflected on the disciples’ response in the face of the hunger of the crowds saying that they had “a human attitude which looks for a more realist solution” and “does not create too many problems.”
However, Jesus’ attitude, the Pope continued, “is sharply different and it is determined by his union with the Father and by compassion for the people, that piety that Jesus has towards all of us.”
“Jesus knows our problems, he knows our weaknesses, he knows our needs. With those 5 loaves of bread Jesus thinks: This is providence! From this little bit God can draw out what is necessary for everybody. Jesus puts himself entirely in the hands of the heavenly Father, he knows that with him all things are possible.”
The Holy Father went on to say that the Jesus’ act of dividing the crowd into groups of 50 was not by chance, rather the crowd has become “a community nourished by the bread of God.”
Prior to reciting the Angelus, the Holy Father reminded the faithful that the Gospel on the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ is a calling to “convert to faith in Providence” as well as to “know how to share the little that we are and have.
Painful Concern for Syria
After the recitation of the Angelus, Pope Francis expressed his “painful” concern over the continuing conflict in Syria. The conflict, the Holy Father said, “has disturbed Syria for more than 2 years and especially harms the unarmed population, which aspires to peace in justice and understanding.”
“This tragic situation of war brings with it tragic consequences: death, destruction, enormous economic and environmental destruction as well as the scourge of kidnappings,” the Holy Father continued. “In deploring these facts, I would like to assure my prayer and my solidarity for the persons who have been kidnapped and for their families and I appeal to the humanity of the kidnappers, that they might free their victims. Let us pray always for our beloved Syria.”
The Holy Father also spoke regarding the Mass he celebrated earlier that morning with wounded soldiers and relatives of those who died in peace keeping mission. Pope Francis called on the faithful to prayer for those who have the wounded and those who have fallen in “peace missions that seek to promote reconciliation and peace in countries in which much blood of brothers continues to be spilled in wars that are always foolish.”
“Everything is lost with war. Everything is gained with peace,” the Pope said. His remarks were followed by a moment of prayerful silence in remembrance of those who have died, the wounded and their families.
