“This is the transformation that the world has most need of, because it redeems from within, opening it up to the size of the the kingdom of heaven,” Pope Benedict declared.

“Everything goes through the logic of the patient and humble grain of wheat that is broken to form the logic of faith that moves mountains with the gentle power of God.” For this reason, the sacrifice of Eucharist is given to the world “to give every person the possibility of salvation.”

“For God wants to continue to renew humanity, history and the cosmos through this chain of transformations, of which the Eucharist is the sacrament.”

The Eucharist goes beyond uniting believers to Christ and helps them open up to others, so that “we are no longer divided but one in him,” the Pope said.

The procession was led Pope Benedict, who was driven atop a canopied float and flanked by candle-bearing acolytes. The Pope knelt in adoration in front of the Eucharist for the whole procession.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims processed behind the Pope, reciting the Rosary and singing Eucharistic hymns as they as walked the mile long route in the warm Roman night.

The procession concluded outside St. Mary Major, where the Pope led a service of Benediction that finished with a blessing of the pilgrims, now kneeling, with the Eucharist.