Pope Francis visited the parish of the Blessed Sacrament in Rome to find pilgrims who were overcome with emotion and some who tried desperately to get a photo with him.
He answered different questions by four people, touching on the importance of the family as a reflection of the faith.
POPE FRANCIS
“I have a habit. When I hear the confessions of a father, a mother who has young children, also older, but above all younger... I ask them if they play with their children. Values are also transmitted through playing. But do you have time to get on the floor and play with your son, your daughter? This is big. Never lose this. Know how to spend time with your children. This language of love is able to transmit all the values of the faith.”
He finished by praying a Hail Mary with the parishioners, before he went to inaugurate the Casa della Gioia. “The House of Joy” is a project by Caritas that takes care of the sick and disabled. Pope Francis explained his reflections afterwards.
POPE FRANCIS
“I was upstairs at the house they call The House of Joy. But it would be better to call it, The House of Love. Because this parish takes care of many who need to be looked after and served. This is love.”
At 5:30 during the Mass, the pope continued his theme of love, reflecting on God's love and the concrete love found in the family.
POPE FRANCIS
“Love is taking care of others. Love is not the sound of violins and romance, no. Love is work. Think about how many of you are mothers and how, when your children were little, did you love them? Through work. Love is always working for others. Because love is always found in works, not in words.”
He then gave the sacrament of confirmation to a young girl, Maya, with mitochondrial disease and her mother at the parish. The parish reacted with loud applause.
Before Pope Francis could leave, the parishioners gave him a framed image of the Blessed Virgin Mother to conclude his parish visit.
