Holy Father Pope Francis’ address to the crowds gathered in stifling St. Peter’s Square, stemmed from his reflection on the Gospel reading of the day that tells the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Jesus and his apostles possessed but a few coins, the Pontiff said, while a great crowd had followed them up the mountain near the shores of the Sea of Galilee. It was there that a young man, led by Andrew, came forward and offered all he had: five loaves and two fish.
As reported by Vatican Radio, His Holiness Pope Francis remarked that “As disciples of Christ, we must turn a blind eye:” Only by listening to the simplest requests of people and by placing ourselves next to their concrete existential situations, can we be listened to when speaking of higher values. We are instruments of God’s love for humanity that is hungry for bread, for freedom, for justice, for peace, and above all for His divine grace, which never fails. Therefore the Gospel invites us to be available and industrious, just like that boy who only had five loaves but offered them.” Further, the Pontiff added, “Faced with the cry of hunger – all sorts of “hunger” – of so many of our brothers and sisters throughout the world, we cannot remain detached and calm spectators. The proclamation of Christ, the bread of eternal life, requires a generous commitment of solidarity for the poor, the weak, the last, and the defenseless. This action of proximity and charity is the best test of our faith, both at the personal level, and as a community.”
His Holiness Pope Francis concluded with a final prayer to Our Lady so that programmes and initiatives dedicated to development, to the eradication of hunger, to solidarity may prevail – not those of hatred, armaments and war.
