Pope Francis delved into the topic of gluttony, emphasizing the need for a balanced relationship with food to preserve the planet and nurture virtuous hearts, during his weekly General Audience.
“The issue is not ‘giving in’ before a piece of cake,” the Pope said. “We eat to live; we don’t live to eat. How one eats reveals something about their soul.”
The pontiff dismissed the notion that enjoying food is inherently sinful, pointing out that Jesus Himself appreciated good meals and companionship.
“His first miracle, at the wedding feast of Cana, reveals His sympathy with human joys: He cares that the feast ends well and gives the bride and groom a lot of very good wine,” Pope Francis explained.
Rather than condemning food, the Pope cautioned against taking for granted or distorting “God’s daily bread,” which he warned could have detrimental effects on the environment.
“What matters is the distortion of our relationship with food and how it changes us and our hearts,” Pope Francis said.
He referenced the rejection of the Hebrew law’s ritual food distinctions and the Lord’s joyous participation in meals with others, as depicted in the Scriptures.
“Jesus is often seen at the table eating, as opposed to John the Baptist, who is remembered for his asceticism,” he pointed out.
He underscored the importance of balancing joyful table fellowship with periods of abstaining and fasting, as observed during Lent.
“We have pounced on everything to become masters of everything, even though everything has been entrusted to our stewardship,” lamented Pope Francis.
“Here, then, is the great sin, the fury of the stomach: we have abjured the name of men to assume another, ‘consumers.'”
The Pope drew attention to the societal tendency towards distorted or imbalanced relationships with food, particularly in societies plagued by eating disorders and wasteful consumption, contrasting the suffering of many with the excesses of others.
“Food is the manifestation of something inner: the predisposition to balance or immoderation; the ability to give thanks or the arrogant claim to autonomy,” Pope Francis remarked, linking food habits to psychological and spiritual well-being.
He acknowledged the pain associated with eating disorders and stressed the importance of moderation and social responsibility in consuming food.
“These illnesses, often very painful, are mostly related to the torments of the psyche and soul,” he said.
Pope Francis warned against the dangers of gluttony, describing it as “perhaps the most dangerous vice that is killing the planet.”
He critiqued voracious consumption, which he asserted has compromised the future by exploiting the Earth’s resources.
Pope Francis encouraged everyone to pray for the grace to live in sobriety, acknowledging the need for a collective effort to reverse the harmful effects of gluttony on both individual souls and the entire world.
