From a window of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis greeted pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square on the celebration of Corpus Christi.
He asked the international community to look for a way to end violence in Libya, where the situation has escalated in recent weeks.
POPE FRANCIS
I also pray for the thousands of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons in Libya. The health situation has aggravated the already precarious conditions in which they find themselves, making them more vulnerable to forms of exploitation and violence.
Libya is especially dangerous for refugees. Those enslaved by ruthless human traffickers are often subjected to cruel treatment. That's why the pope said “we are all responsible for this,” and that “no one can consider him or herself dispensed” from taking the situation seriously.
On the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, he called attention to two effects of the Eucharist: “the mystical effect and the communal effect.”
POPE FRANCIS
This dual fruit of the Eucharist: first, union with Christ and second, communion between those who are nourished by Him, generates and continually renews the Christian community. It is the Church that makes the Eucharist, but it is more fundamental that the Eucharist makes the Church.
Pope Francis explained that the mystery of the Eucharist is to receive Christ in order to be transformed from within, to be united, not divided.
