"Marriage is a symbol of life, real life: it is not ‘fiction’" and "the path is not always a smooth one, free of disagreements, otherwise it would not be human." Rather, "here we see the reciprocity of differences. It is a demanding journey, at times difficult, and at times turbulent, but such is life." Pope Francis said this on Sunday, September 14th, at St. Peter’s Basilica, in his homily during the Wedding Mass of twenty couples from the Diocese of Rome. On the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Pope Bergoglio recalled that "the love of Christ can restore to spouses the joy of journeying together. This is what marriage is all about: man and woman walking together, wherein the husband helps his wife to become ever more a woman, and wherein the woman has the task of helping her husband to become ever more a man." This, Bergoglio added, "is the task that you both share. ‘I love you, and for this love I help you to become ever more a woman’; ‘I love you, and for this love I help you to become ever more a man’! Within this theology, which the word of God offers us concerning the people on a journey, spouses on a journey, I would like to give you some advice." With regard to conflicts, for the Pope, "it is normal for husband and wife to argue: it’s normal. It always happens. But my advice is this: never let the day end without having first made peace. Never! A small gesture is sufficient. Thus the journey may continue. The love of Christ, which has blessed and sanctified the union of husband and wife, is able to sustain their love and to renew it when, humanly speaking, it becomes lost, wounded or worn out," the Pope added, wishing the newlyweds "a good journey, a fruitful one, growing in love. I wish you happiness. There will be crosses! But the Lord is always there to help us move forward!"