Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday appealed for those suffering in the Horn of Africa from
the dramatic consequences of famine, aggravated by war and the absence of solid institutions.
Addressing
three thousand people in the courtyard of the Papal Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo,
he said Jesus confronts us with our responsibility: which is to do everything in our
power to bring assistance to those who suffer from hunger and thirst.
He was
commenting on the Sunday Gospel passage, which was about the multiplication of the
loaves and fishes.
“In today’s Gospel passage, we hear of the multiplication
of loaves and fishes, which in a wonderful way prefigured the institution of the Eucharist.
We pray that Christians, scattered like grain throughout the world, will be united
in offering the one bread and the one cup, and so become one body, one spirit in Christ,”
said Pope Benedict.
The Holy Father also said that Jesus, who is concerned
about our material well-being, also “wants to give more, because man is always hungry
for something more, he needs something more. In the bread of Christ, the love of God
is present, in our encounter with Him, we nourish ourselves, so to speak, with the
same living God himself, we truly eat the ‘bread from heaven’”
Pope Benedict
said, “In the Eucharist Jesus also makes us witnesses of God's compassion for every
brother and sister.”