On Morning Air, John Morales and Fr. James Kubicki reflected on the remarkable life of Pope St. Pius X, often called the “Pope of the Eucharist.” Born Giuseppe Sarto in northern Italy, he came from a poor family where sacrifice was a daily reality. As a child, he would sometimes walk barefoot to school in order to preserve his shoes. That early spirit of simplicity never left him, even when he rose to the Chair of St. Peter. He would later say that he was born poor, lived poor, and would die poor, a promise he faithfully kept.

What distinguished Pius X above all was his devotion to the Eucharist. He recognized that the Blessed Sacrament is the heart of the Church, the daily bread that strengthens the faithful. In a groundbreaking decision, he lowered the age for First Communion from 12 to 7, acknowledging that even young children could grasp and love the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. He also encouraged all Catholics to receive Communion frequently, pointing out that if priests could receive daily, the faithful should not hesitate to do the same. John Morales noted how this decision has borne fruit in the lives of countless young saints, including Blessed Carlo Acutis, who encountered Jesus in the Eucharist at an early age because of Pius X’s reform.

Fr. Kubicki highlighted the Pope’s motto, “To restore all things in Christ,” drawn from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. At a time when the world was drifting toward the First World War, Pius X insisted that true peace cannot exist apart from God. His vision was not only about doctrine but about renewing hearts through the centrality of Christ, especially in the liturgy. To that end, he encouraged active participation at Mass, fostered the use of Gregorian chant, and promoted a deeper engagement with Scripture. His founding of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome was a lasting sign of his conviction that Catholics must be nourished by both the Word and the Sacrament.

Through his words and actions, Pius X reminded the Church of a profound truth: the Eucharist is not simply a ritual but the source and summit of Christian life. It is the wellspring of joy, the strength that sustains us in trials, and the promise of eternal communion with God. It is the Bread of Life.

The legacy of Pope St. Pius X continues to shape the Church today. He was a humble shepherd who carried his poverty as a mark of fidelity, a Eucharistic Pope who drew souls closer to the altar, and a saint whose life still points us to the only true center of Catholic life: Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.