Pope Francis shares knowledge of Saints during All Saints' Day Mass

'That is why we call the Saints blessed.'

Pope Francis celebrated All Saints' Day Mass during his trip to Sweden, providing insight to the reason we call the saints "blessed."

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Pope Francis celebrated All Saints' Day Mass at the Swedbank Stadium in Malmö for the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

The Mass took place on the final day of his two-day trip to Sweden, the first of which had him participating in a joint prayer service and ecumenical encounter to commemorate the Reformation.

The service also recognized 50 years of ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation.

The Mass was Pope Francis' final event before departing back to Rome.

"If there is one thing typical of the saints, it is that they are genuinely happy," the Pontiff shared during his November 1 homily.

He explained the saints "found the secret of authentic happiness, which lies deep within the soul and has its source in the love of God. That is why we call the saints blessed."

Speaking of the Beatitudes, His Holiness said they are the path saints take and are also a saint's final goal.

"[T]he Beatitudes," he described, "are the way of life that the Lord teaches us, so that we can follow in his footsteps."

Pope Francis also mentioned All Saints' Day is "a celebration of holiness" seen "in daily fidelity to the demands of our baptism."

The holiness of following Christ "consists in the love of God and the love of our brothers and sisters. A love that remains faithful to the point of self-renunciation and complete devotion to others."

Of the Beatitudes, the  Pontiff said they are the image of Christ and, consequently, "of each Christian."

His Holiness stated, "Blessed are the Meek," adding the "spiritual portrait" of the Beatitude reveals God's love. Through meekness "is a way of living and acting that draws us close to Jesus and to one another.

"It enables us to set aside everything that divides and estranges us, and to find ever new ways to advance along the path of unity."

The saints "bring about change through meekness of heart. With that meekness, we come to understand the grandeur of God and worship him with sincere hearts," the Pope explained.

Meanwhile, the Beatitudes "are in some sense the Christian's identity card because they identify us as followers of Jesus.

"We are called to be blessed, to be followers of Jesus, to confront the troubles and anxieties of our age with the spirit and love of Jesus. Thus we ought to be able to recognize and respond to new situations with fresh spiritual energy."

Pope Francis called us to use the saints' examples to "spur us on by our lives and their intercession before God."

He concluded: "Together let us implore the grace to accept this call with joy and to join in bringing it to fulfillment."

In reference to the Blessed Mother, the Pontiff said: "[O]ur intentions and the dialogue aimed at the full communion of all Christians, so that we may be blessed in our efforts and may attain holiness in unity."

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