As soon as he entered the Cathedral of Santa Ana de Las Palmas to meet with the diocesan community, Leo XIV entered the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, where he prayed for a few moments. It was more than significant. In his message he asked the faithful to cultivate the Eucharistic spirit.
The Holy Father immediately focused his words on two attitudes that a Christian must maintain. On the one hand, to embrace the cross; on the other, to cultivate a Eucharistic spirit.
The Pope and the sea
And that was because their first reference was the Atlantic Sea, so typical of islands that are the last land passage on the way to the Americas. The Canarian atmosphere was palpable by the warm welcome, and by details such as the Canarian pronunciation when singing the hymn of the visit: “Alsad la mirada”, which resounded powerfully in the cathedral.
The Pope spoke of the sea: “it can be synonymous with distance and separation, with challenge and the road to travel”. He quoted St. Augustine in recalling that Jesus “gave us the wood with which to cross the sea. No one is able to cross the sea of this world if he does not carry the cross of Christ. Therefore, “the first attitude that guides us to navigate the waters of life and reach our destination, the heavenly homeland, is to embrace the cross of Christ.
The cross and the Eucharist
He thanked those present for carrying the cross: “You do it daily, for example, like Cyrenians, accompanying and helping to carry the burdens of so many brothers and sisters crucified by the dramas of life. I thank you for this generous work of charity and mercy”.
He also asked to “cultivate a Eucharistic spirituality”. And he referred to a tradition that exists in the cathedral: the shower of flower petals before the Blessed Sacrament on Ascension Day. He recalled that the Eucharist supposes a spirituality of ecclesial unity in love. Unity again, one of the key themes of his magisterium these days”.
Before concluding, the Pope received some gifts from the diocese. Among them, a reproduction of his family tree. “We are hopeful that he has Canarian origins, I hope he will confirm it,” said the representative of the diocese.
He greeted representatives of the diocese, among them some elderly priests, in an atmosphere of fraternity and closeness.
A blessing
His farewell tour among the thousands of people gathered in the vicinity was an ecstasy of happiness for many. A young woman with cancer said: “I managed to get close to him and he blessed me. And he gave me a rosary. This gives me great confidence to continue my fight”.
A veteran nun, who had managed to shake his hand, commented humorously: “I don't wash it anymore”.
Some young women from the Bartimaeus and Effeta communities, before the beginning of the meeting, sang a song that summarized the welcoming spirit of the Canary Islanders on this day: “León, León, me mola mogollón, que llega a Canarias y alegra el corazón” (Leon, Leon, I love it so much, it comes to the Canary Islands and gladdens the heart).
