Catholics must believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, celebrate the liturgy with devotion and live in a way that demonstrates their faith, Pope Benedict XVI said. "The celebration and worship of the Eucharist enable us to draw near to God's love and to persevere in that love," the Pope said in his apostolic exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis ("The Sacrament of Charity").

The 131-page document, a papal reflection on the discussions and suggestions made during the 2005 World Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist, was released on Tuesday by the Vatican.

When Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper, he did not simply thank God for the ways he had acted throughout history to save people, the Pope said. Rather, Jesus revealed that he himself was the sacrifice that would bring salvation to fulfilment.

"The institution of the Eucharist demonstrates how Jesus' death, for all its violence and absurdity, became in him a supreme act of love and mankind's definitive deliverance from evil," Pope Benedict wrote.

In addition to offering a spiritual reflection on the meaning of the Eucharist, the Pope made several concrete suggestions for further study and for celebrating the Mass in the Latin rite:

• While he encouraged wider knowledge and use of the Mass prayers in Latin and of Gregorian chant, he also repeated the synod's affirmation of the "beneficial influence" of the liturgical changes made by the Second Vatican Council on the life of the Church.

However, he also endorsed the synod's suggestion that at Masses with a large, international congregation, the liturgy be celebrated in Latin "with the exception of the readings, the homily and the prayer of the faithful."

• In expressing his concern for the number of Catholics unable to receive Communion because of irregular marital situations, Pope Benedict confirmed Church teaching that those who have been divorced and civilly remarried without having obtained an annulment are not to receive Communion.

However, the Pope encouraged bishops to ensure they have fully trained and staffed marriage tribunals to deal with annulment requests "in an expeditious manner".

• Pope Benedict said the sign of peace at Mass "has great value," especially in demonstrating the Church's responsibility to pray for peace and unity in a world too often troubled by division, violence and hatred.

While Catholics at Mass should exchange a sign of peace with those near them, he also called for "greater restraint" to ensure the moment does not become one of irreparable distraction.

• The Pope also said the Church should consider providing new texts for the rite of dismissal at the end of Mass so that Catholics would understand better the connection between what they have just celebrated and the fact that they are sent out in a mission to bring God's love and truth to the world.

• Pope Benedict said in order to help Catholics "believe, celebrate and live ever more fully the mystery of the Eucharist," several Vatican offices are preparing a compendium of texts, prayers and explanations of the Church teaching on the Eucharist and of the Eucharistic prayers used at Mass.

• He called for a general improvement in the quality of homilies and said bishops have a particular responsibility to ensure that the liturgies they celebrate provide an example for the whole diocese of a liturgy celebrated with dignity, beauty and fidelity to the approved rites.

• The Pope asked Catholics to pay more attention to how their postures and gestures at Mass communicate their faith in the Eucharist, particularly by "kneeling during the central moments of the Eucharistic prayer."

• As for church architecture, Pope Benedict encouraged parishes to ensure their facilities are fully accessible to people with disabilities and that the tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament is "readily visible to everyone entering the church."

• He reminded Catholics of the obligation to be in a "state of grace," free from serious sin, before receiving Communion, and of the fact that by receiving Communion they are publicly proclaiming their unity with the teaching of the Church.

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