• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Aug. 22, 2021. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Seek God through a relationship with Christ, others, pope says at Angelus

August 23, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Eucharist, Feature, News, Vatican, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn
People in St. Peter’s Square attend the Angelus led by Pope Francis from the window of his studio overlooking the square at the Vatican Aug. 22, 2021. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — God can be found in the humanity of Jesus and in the people one meets in life, Pope Francis said.

“Jesus affirms that the true bread of salvation, which transmits eternal life, is his very flesh; that to enter into communion with God, before observing the laws or satisfying religious precepts, it is necessary to live out a real and concrete relationship with him,” the pope told those gathered in St. Peter’s Square Aug. 22 during his Sunday Angelus address.

This relationship is necessary “because salvation came from him, in his incarnation. This means that one must not pursue God in dreams and in images of grandeur and power, but he must be recognized in the humanity of Jesus and, as a consequence, in that of the brothers and sisters we meet on the path of life,” he said.

The pope reflected on the Sunday Gospel reading from St. John in which many of Jesus’ followers were shocked or found it hard to accept what Jesus said about being the “bread that came down from heaven.” Some turned their back on Jesus and stopped following him.

But Simon Peter spoke on behalf of the 12 disciples, confirming their decision to stay with Jesus, saying: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Commenting on the passage, Pope Francis said Peter’s response “is a beautiful confession of faith.”

But, he said, it was also important to understand the reason for the others’ disbelief and rejection.

“Jesus’ words enkindled great scandal: He was saying that God decided to manifest himself and accomplish salvation in the weakness of human flesh. It is the mystery of incarnation,” which may be shocking or an obstacle to faith for people today, too, the pope said.

It is the “folly” of the Gospel for those “who seek miracles or worldly wisdom,” and “the world is scandalized” that people can be nourished by the bread of the Eucharist.

When Jesus explained his miracle of the loaves and fishes was a sign of “his sacrifice, that is, of the gift of his life, his flesh and blood, and that those who want to follow him must incorporate him, his humanity given for God and for others … this Jesus no longer was no longer liked, this Jesus throws us into crisis,” Pope Francis said.

“We should be worried if he does not throw us into crisis, because we might have watered down his message,” he added.

“God made himself flesh and blood; he lowered himself to the point of becoming a man like us,” burdening himself with people’s sufferings and sin, he said.

That is why God asks people to seek him “in relationship with Christ and with our brothers and sisters. Seeking him in life, in history, in our daily life,” he said.

This, he said, “is the road to the encounter with God: the relationship with Christ and our brothers and sisters.”

Also see

Petition filed at Supreme Court seeks overturn of landmark same-sex marriage ruling

Head of Spanish political party criticizes Catholic Church’s defense of Muslim community

At 80th anniversary Mass in Nagasaki, people urged to bring Christ’s love, peace to world

Cardenal salvadoreño: ‘Queremos vivir la democracia’

Following deadly steel plant explosion, Pittsburgh bishop calls for prayer

Trump federalizes DC police force, says homeless encampments will be removed

Copyright © 2021 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Carol Glatz

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • The ‘both/and’ pope

  • Patrick Brice sentenced to home detention for attacks on elderly pro-life supporters

  • Movie Review: ‘The Naked Gun’

  • Statue of Confederate general known as anti-Catholic to be reinstalled in nation’s capital

  • Gun buyback exceeds expectations, previous totals

| Latest Local News |

Gun buyback exceeds expectations, previous totals

Radio Interview: The situation in Gaza with Catholic Near East Welfare Association

Patrick Brice sentenced to home detention for attacks on elderly pro-life supporters

Notre Dame of Maryland University joins with Milwaukee college to address teacher shortage

Sister Agnese Neumann dies at 95

| Latest World News |

Petition filed at Supreme Court seeks overturn of landmark same-sex marriage ruling

Head of Spanish political party criticizes Catholic Church’s defense of Muslim community

At 80th anniversary Mass in Nagasaki, people urged to bring Christ’s love, peace to world

Trump federalizes DC police force, says homeless encampments will be removed

Statue of Confederate general known as anti-Catholic to be reinstalled in nation’s capital

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Petition filed at Supreme Court seeks overturn of landmark same-sex marriage ruling
  • Head of Spanish political party criticizes Catholic Church’s defense of Muslim community
  • At 80th anniversary Mass in Nagasaki, people urged to bring Christ’s love, peace to world
  • Cardenal salvadoreño: ‘Queremos vivir la democracia’
  • Following deadly steel plant explosion, Pittsburgh bishop calls for prayer
  • Trump federalizes DC police force, says homeless encampments will be removed
  • Statue of Confederate general known as anti-Catholic to be reinstalled in nation’s capital
  • Advocate pleads for Vatican aid as Russian adoption database shows Ukraine’s children
  • Salvadoran Catholic leaders speaking out more amid worries over democratic erosion

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en