Love, the Heart of the Church
My venerable predecessor Pope John Paul II stated that ‘…many things are necessary for the Church’s journey through history, not least in this new century; but without charity (agape) all will be in vain. It is again the Apostle Paul who in his hymn to love reminds us: even if we speak the tongues of men and of angels, and if we have faith “to move mountains”, but are without love, all will come to “nothing” (cf. 1 Cor 13:2). Love is truly the “heart” of the Church.’
Letter, 27.5.07

Sign of Unity
St Paul knows that he has been sent to proclaim a ‘mystery’, a divine plan that only in the fullness of time has been carried out and revealed in Christ: namely, that ‘the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel’ (Eph 3:6). This mystery is accomplished, in salvation history, in the Church, the new People in which, now that the old dividing wall has been broken down, Jews and pagans find themselves united. Like Christ himself, the Church is not only the instrument of unity, but also its efficacious sign.
Homily, 29.11.06

Centrality of the Church
For St Paul, adherence to the Church was brought about by a direct intervention of Christ, who in revealing himself on the road to Damascus identified himself with the Church and made St Paul realize that persecution of the Church was persecution of himself, the Lord. In fact, the Risen One said to St Paul, persecutor of the Church: ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ (Acts 9:4). In persecuting the Church, he was persecuting Christ. St Paul, therefore, was at the same time converted to Christ and to the Church. This leads one to understand why the Church later became so present in St Paul’s thoughts, heart and activity.
Catechesis, 29.11.06

Christ and the Church
On the road to Damascus, Saul hears the disturbing question: ‘Why do you persecute me?’ Falling to the ground and inwardly troubled, he asked: ‘Who are you, Lord?’, receiving that answer which is the basis of his conversion: ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting’ (Acts 9:4-5). St Paul understood in an instant what he would later express in his writings: that the Church forms a single body of which Christ is the Head. And so, from a persecutor of Christians he became the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Homily, 25.1.06

Mystical Body of Christ
St Paul makes us understand that not only does the belonging of the Church to Christ exist, but also a certain form of equality and identification of the Church with Christ himself. From this, therefore, derive the greatness and nobility of the Church, that is, of all of us who are part of her: from our being members of Christ, an extension as it were of his personal presence in the world.
Catechesis, 22.11.06

Charismas in the Christian Community
Underlining the need for unity does not mean that the life of the Church should be standardized or levelled out in accordance with a single way of operating. Elsewhere, St Paul taught, ‘Do not quench the Spirit’ (1 Thes 5:19), that is, make room generously for the unforeseeable dynamism of the charismatic manifestations of the Spirit, who is an ever new source of energy and vitality.
Catechesis, 22.11.06

Do Not Extinguish Charismas
St Paul in his First Letter to the Thessalonians urges us: do not extinguish charismas (cf. 1 Thes 5:19). If the Lord gives us new gifts we must be grateful, even if at times they may be inconvenient. And it is beautiful that new forms of life are being born in the Church just as, moreover, they have been born down the ages, without any initiative on the part of the hierarchy but with an initiative from below, as people say, but which also truly comes from on high, that is, as a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Speech, 22.2.07

Christ’s Bride
Then, there is also a Pauline Letter that presents the Church as Christ’s Bride (cf. Eph 5:21-33)…emphasizing how intimate the relationship between Christ and his Church is, both in the sense that she is the object of the most tender love on the part of her Lord, and also in the sense that love must be mutual and that we too therefore, as members of the Church, must show him passionate faithfulness.
Catechesis, 22.11.06



Holy City
Just as in their love man and woman become ‘one flesh’, so Christ and humanity gathered in the Church become through Christ’s love ‘one spirit’ (cf. 1 Cor 6:17; Eph 5:29ff.). St Paul calls Christ the new, the last Adam: the definitive man. And he calls him ‘a life-giving spirit’ (1 Cor 15:45). With him, we become one; with him, the Church becomes a life-giving spirit. The holy City, where there is no longer a temple because it is inhabited by God, is the image of this community that is built on Christ.
Homily, 10.12.06

Spiritual Body
Although she is a body, the Church is the Body of Christ, hence, she is a spiritual body, as St Paul said. She is a spiritual reality. I think this is very important: that people see that the Church is not a supernatural organization nor an administrative body or power, that she is not a social agency, but indeed that although she does social and supernatural work, she is a spiritual body.
Speech, 22.2.07

God’s Family
In the Letter to the Ephesians St Paul compares the matrimonial relationship to the wedded communion that happens between Christ and the Church (cf. Eph 5:25-33). Even more, we can maintain that the Apostle indirectly models the life of the entire Church on that of the family. And the Church, in reality, is the family of God.
Catechesis, 7.2.07

The Holy Spirit and the Church
St Paul’s doctrine reveals a very special power, obviously founded on divine revelation but also on his own apostolic experience, which confirmed anew the awareness that not wisdom and human eloquence, but only the power of the Holy Spirit builds the Church in the faith (cf. 1 Cor 1:22-24; 2:4ff).
Speech, 21.1.08

Ecumenical Dialogue
This is very important: we must tolerate the separation that exists. St Paul says that divisions are necessary for a certain time and that the Lord knows why: to test us, to train us, to develop us, to make us more humble. But at the same time, we are obliged to move towards unity, and moving towards unity is already a form of unity.
Speech, 2.3.06

Unity
In the First Letter to the Christians of Corinth, who were the first to experience the problems and grave temptations of division, we can see a relevant message for all Christians. Indeed, a real danger appears when people prefer to identify with one group rather than another, saying, ‘I belong to St Paul’, or ‘I belong to Apollos’, or ‘I belong to Cephas’. It was then that St Paul asked the searching question, ‘Is Christ divided?’ (1 Cor 1:13).
Speech, 14.12.06

Necessity of Praying
‘Pray without ceasing’ (1 Thes 5:17). St Paul addressed the community of Thessalonica, which was experiencing inner disputes and conflicts, in order to appeal forcefully for certain fundamental attitudes, among which stands out ceaseless prayer. With this invitation, he wanted to make people understand that the capacity to overcome all selfishness, to live together in peace and fraternal union and for each one to bear the burdens and suffering of others comes from new life in Christ and in the Holy Spirit. We must never tire of praying for Christian unity!
Angelus, 20.1.08

Ecumenical Relations
The advice that St Paul gave to the Thessalonians can still inspire the behaviour of Christians in the context of ecumenical relations today. Above all he said: ‘Be at peace among yourselves’, and then, ‘pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances’ (1 Thes 5:13, 18). Let us also accept the Apostle’s pressing exhortation, both to thank the Lord for the progress achieved and to implore him for full unity.
Catechesis, 23.1.08