St. Pius X: Pope of the Eucharist (Morning Air)

Image via Boza C / Shutterstock. On Morning Air, John Morales and Fr. James Kubicki take us into the life of Pope St. Pius X, the beloved “Pope of the Eucharist.” Born Giuseppe Sarto into a poor Italian family, young Pius would even walk barefoot to school just to save his shoes. That humility never left him, even when he became Pope. He famously said, “I was born poor, I lived poor, and I will die poor.” What set him apart was his deep devotion to the Eucharist. He lowered the age for First Communion from 12 to 7, recognizing that even children could understand and love Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He also encouraged frequent Communion for everyone, asking, “If priests can receive every day, why not the faithful?” John points out that countless saints in the making, like young Blessed Carlo Acutis, were able to receive Jesus early in life because of Pope Pius X's influence. Fr. Kubicki mentions Pius X’s motto, “To restore all things in Christ,” drawn from St. Paul. At a time when the world was sliding toward war, the Pope reminded us that peace is impossible without God. He also promoted active participation at Mass through Gregorian chant and fostered a love for Scripture by founding the Biblical Institute in Rome. In the end, Pope St. Pius X left us with a simple truth: the Eucharist is the center of Catholic life, the source of joy, and the strength we need for heaven. He was a humble man, a Eucharistic Pope, and a saint who still leads us closer to Christ. The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.