Pope recalls another key anniversary in his life his first Communion

Unable to resist telling the world about a personal event that is dear to his heart, Pope Francis said that 70 years ago to the day, he celebrated his first Communion.

“They say that you shouldn’t talk about personal things, but I can’t resist the temptation,” he said at his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square.

“I am so thankful to the Lord because, 70 years ago I made my first Communion,” he said with a broad smile. “Let us all thank the Lord for our baptism, all of us thank him for our first Communion,” he said.

The 77-year-old Pope revealed the personal tidbit to underline what it means to enter into communion with the Catholic Church and to seek communion with Christians who belong to other confessions or traditions.

This theme of Christian unity was part of the series of audience talks the Pope has been giving on the nature of the Church.