Pontiff encourages community life in parish

(December 13, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday morning visited the parish of St. Maximilian Kolbe of Rome Diocese, of which he is the bishop. In his sermon at Mass, he encouraged the faithful to know "how to form a community with everyone, united in listening to the Word of God and in the celebration of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist." "Gathered around the Eucharist we more easily feel that the mission of every Christian community is that of bringing the message of God's love to all men," the Pontiff said. "This is why it is important that the Eucharist always be at the heart of the life of the faithful." He acknowledged that the parish community of St. Maximilian Kolbe has many families from other regions and countries that have come "in search of work and better conditions of life." He said that "it is important to create occasions of dialogue and to promote mutual understanding between persons from different cultures, models of life and social conditions." "But it is above all necessary to help them become involved in the Christian life through care that is attentive to the real needs of each person," Pope Benedict urged.