His Holiness Pope Francis received this noon, Saturday, in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican, the pilgrims of the Diocese of Alexandria, the boys and girls who have received the Sacrament of Confirmation and who are preparing to receive this Sacrament, who came from Diocese of Spoleto-Norcia in Italy, and gave a welcome speech in which he thanked Monsignor Guido Galizzi, bishop of the diocese of Alessandria and Monsignor Renato Boccardo, bishop of the diocese of Spoleto-Norcia for their words.
His Holiness Pope Francis greeted the brothers and sisters of the Archdiocese of Alexandria and in his speech he recalled the four hundred and fifty years since the death of Pope Saint Pius V (Antonio Gisellieri), born in Bosco Marengo, in the Archdiocese of Alexandria. . Then, stopping at the Eucharistic celebration, Pope Francis in his speech indicated that Saint Pius V was concerned about the liturgical reform in the Church, and after four centuries the Second Vatican Council brought about a further reform. In his speech he also emphasized that the Eucharistic celebration is the source of the life of the community. Pope Francis in his speech also recalled that Saint Pius V recommended prayer, in particular the Rosary, and continued, noting that the first steps of the Church in the world were marked by prayer. The apostolic writings and the narration of the book of the Acts of the Apostles provide us with the image of a Church that goes and works, but which finds in the prayer meetings the basis and the reason for the apostolic work.
His Holiness Pope Francis continued his address to the pilgrims from the diocese of Alexandria, thus recalling four directives that guide us – as he said – on the ecclesiastical journey as recalled in the Acts of the Apostles (2, 42) “and they were diligent in teaching of the apostles, in communion, in the breaking of bread and in prayers ”. The Holy Father then invited them to walk together in the pastoral renewal of their diocese, also recalling that the synodal process requires a fruitful growth in fraternal communion between the Bishop, the priests and the laity. And he concluded his discourse by saying: The Lord bless your steps and bear fruit that will encourage all believers.
Then His Holiness Pope Francis addressed a speech to the boys and girls who have received the sacrament of Confirmation and who are preparing to receive it soon, coming from the Diocese of Spoleto-Norcia, and expressed his pleasure to meet them, and asked them : saying: Do you know the date of your baptism? He then recalled the importance of each knowing the date of his baptism, noting that confirmation proves baptism. The Holy Father added that Christian life is a home built on the foundation of baptism. Therefore, it is very important to remember and celebrate the day of our baptism.
Pope Francis continued his speech, recalling the earthquake that struck their region, and recalled that today they bring him a stone from the monastery of S. Uttisio to be blessed and placed as a symbol of its reconstruction. And he added: I bless each of you so that he may be a living stone for the construction of the Christian community: a living stone in the family, in the parish and in the company of friends … Being living stones – Pope Francis said – it is possible for power of the Holy Spirit who in the sacrament of confirmation confirms that you are baptized, children of God and members of the Church. Thus the Holy Father underlined two words: baptism and the living stone, and invited us to go forward to build the house on the rock.
At the end of his meeting in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican with the pilgrims of the diocese of Alexandria, the boys and girls who have received the Sacrament of Confirmation and who are preparing to receive it, who have come from the Diocese of Spoleto-Norcia, His Holiness Pope Francis blessed everyone and said: May the Virgin Mary accompany you. He asked them not to forget to pray for him.
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