What is coffee and why is it a sacrament?
The Catholic Church has been working on the issue of coffee’s sacramental status for a long time.
But for the first time, the question has finally been answered.
Article Continued Below”Coffee is an integral part of life, as it is a sacrament,” Pope Francis said during his visit to Watertown on Wednesday.
“The Catholic Church is concerned about the role that coffee plays in the life of the people of the world.
It is a food that has a profound impact on human health and well-being.
I want to assure all people that coffee is a gift that they should treasure and give to their communities.”
In a recent speech, Francis reiterated his belief that coffee “is the nourishment of life.”
He spoke about the importance of coffee, its role in promoting human dignity and the role of coffee in society.
“It is a great gift for us to make the most of this sacrament that we have made, the gift of coffee,” he said.
“There is an important part of coffee that is spiritual, which is of a profound nature.”
He added that coffee should not be regarded as a commodity.
“Café coffee is not a commodity,” he told the audience.
“The fact that coffee contains different chemicals in its flavour and aroma, is an essential part of its life.”
Francis’ comments came as the United Nations released a new report, Coffee: Sacred or Commercial?
that highlighted the harmful effects of a high-fructose corn syrup, a type of sugar that’s been linked to obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
Francis said he hoped the report will “bring a sense of closure to people and societies.”
“I hope that the report … will also draw the attention to the fact that our coffee, in many ways, is part of our life and part of the lives of the poor and the vulnerable,” he added.
Francises statement was met with some criticism from the American Association of Catholic Bishops, which said the pontiff is still in the process of establishing a position on coffee’s status as a sacrament.
“While the pope is trying to bring a sense, for us, of closure and a real commitment to a sacraments position on the subject, he has not yet laid out the positions of the Catholic Church on the sacrament of coffee or the nature of the sacrament,” the AASB said in a statement.
The AASR added that the pope’s comments “should serve as a wake-up call to the world about the harm of the consumption of high-fat, low-fiber, high-sugar foods.”
Francises comments came a day after the Pope said he hopes that people will “come to terms with the fact of what they are eating” and that “foods are not a product.”
He also expressed hope that people “will start to be able to live a life that is free from fear.”
“This is the only life I have ever known,” he also said.
“I hope, in time, I will be able … to share my experience with others, to be free of fear.”
