Pope: “Jesus did not seek supporters”

These were the pope’s words at the recital of the Angelus, as he commented on the speech made by Christ in Capernaum. “The visit by Kirill in Poland carries great hope with it”-VATICAN INSIDER STAFF-ROME-“Jesus was a Messiah whose aspiration

was not an earthly throne. He was not after gathering supporters to overtake Jerusalem.” These were Benedict XVI’s words at the recital of the Angelus as he commented on Gospel passages concerning Jesus’ speech in Capernaum after the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish.

“The breaking of those loaves to share among thousands of people” explained the pope to the faithful gathered in the inner courtyard of his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo “were not meant to provoke a triumphal march, but to foretell his sacrifice on the cross, when Jesus himself became the bread shared by the multitude. He offered body and blood to atone for the sins of the world and redeem its life.” “Jesus therefore” he went on “made that speech to disenchant the crowds and especially to push his disciples to make a choice. In truth many among them, from then, chose to no longer follow him.”

“Let’s discover once more the beauty of the Sacrament of the Holy Communion” added the pope “which expresses all the modesty and sanctity of God, his making himself small, a fragment in the universe to reconcile it as a whole in his love.”

At the end of the recital of the Angelus in Castel Gandolfo, Benedict XVI underlined the importance of the visit by the Orthodox Russian Patriarch Kirill to Poland and of his joint signature of a declaration together with the Polish Catholic Church. He said he saw the event as a reason to “hope for the future.”

“The Patriarch of Moscow and of all the Russias, Kirill I, is now a guest of the Orthodox Church in Poland” said the pope greeting the pilgrims in Polish. “I send my best wishes to His Holiness and all Orthodox people” he added. He also mentioned that “this visit’s schedule included meetings with Catholic bishops and the mutual declaration of the two Churches to develop a brotherly relationship and to collaborate in spreading the principles of the Gospel across today’s world in the spirit of a shared belief in Jesus Christ.” The pope carried on “This is an important event, which gives us hope for the future.”

Vaticaninisder.com