蜜桃交友

By Pope

The homily was brief and to the point. But, most of all, it was addressed directly to the children who were there to receive their First Holy Communion: all 242 of them.

Rakovsky is the most predominantly Catholic town in Bulgaria, and the children had come from every corner of what Pope Francis called this 鈥淟and of Roses鈥�. He was referring to the fact that Bulgaria is the world鈥檚 number one producer of rose oil, an essence used to make perfumes since the middle ages.

An encounter

鈥淛esus is alive and is here with us鈥�, the Pope told the children, 鈥淭hat is why we can encounter him today in the Eucharist鈥�. 鈥淲e do not see him with our physical eyes, but we do see him with the eyes of faith鈥�, he added.

A celebration

The Pope commented on the 鈥渕eaningful and beautiful sign鈥� of the children鈥檚 white robes: 鈥淵ou are dressed for a celebration鈥�, he told them. 鈥淲e celebrate Jesus, who wants to remain always by our side鈥�.

A miracle

Turning to the Gospel reading and the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fish, Pope Francis reminded the children how the miracle began. 鈥淚t started with one child who offered all he had鈥�, he said. 鈥淪ome miracles can only take place if we have a heart like yours: a heart capable of sharing, dreaming, feeling gratitude, trusting and respecting other people鈥�. The Lord needs you, said the Pope, 鈥渂ecause he wants to work the miracle of bringing His joy to many of your friends and family members鈥�.

An identity card

Pope Francis described the celebration as 鈥渁 day of communion among yourselves and with the whole Church鈥�. That is because 鈥渢he Eucharist expresses the communion that makes all of us brothers and sisters鈥�, he said. 鈥淭his is our identity card: God is our Father, Jesus is our brother, the Church is our family. All of us are brothers and sisters, and our law鈥�, concluded the Pope鈥�, 鈥渋s love鈥�.

A dialogue

Pope Francis clearly thought that this image of the 鈥渋dentity card鈥� was the most important part of his message because, in a spontaneous back-and-forth dialogue with the children, he had them repeat it. Twice.