Pope Francis met with the Bishop Friends of the Focolare Movement. Their annual meeting is taking place in Castel Gandolfo, so they came to Rome on Wednesday to hear directly from the Pope.
CARD. FRANCIS XAVIER KRIENGSAK
Archbishop of Bangkok (Thailand)
'We have 60 Bishops from 35 countries taking part. What we're working on, is deepening the understanding and mystery of the Eucharist.â?
The Pope started off his meeting with a few jokes, especially since Castel Gandolfo is about an hour away from Rome and the meeting took place bright and early.
POPE FRANCIS
'I asked the Cardinal, 'where are you all staying? He responded, in Castel Gandolfo. Then I asked him, 'Well, what time did you wake up?â?
The Pope then reflected on the role of a Bishop not just within the Church, but also in presenting the Eucharist. He explained that a Bishop should not have people gather around his ideas or his persona, but rather around Christ, who is found in the Eucharist. This, he explained, is the strongest link of unity.
POPE FRANCIS
'Without the Eucharist, unity eventually loses its divine attraction. It would be reduced to a feeling and a human dynamic of psychology and sociology.â?
He added, that Just like Jesus, Bishops should also be willing to sacrifice themselves for their flock. More than anything they should be a uniting factor in the Church.
Among those present was the Armenian Bishop of Damascus, who thanked the Pope for naming St. Gregory of Narek as a new Doctor of the Catholic Church.
Thank you for naming St. Greogry.
It was time!
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