EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS BEGINS WITH A CALL FOR UNITY

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2000 (VIS) - At 6:30 p.m. in St. Peter's Square, the Pope presided at the second vespers of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, on the occasion of the opening of the 47th International Eucharistic Congress whose theme is "Jesus Christ, One Savior of the World, Bread for a New Life."

"The Church," said the Holy Father in his homily, "summoned together for the International Eucharistic Congress, turns at this time to the Upper Room and there remains in pensive adoration. She relives the great mystery of the Incarnation, concentrating her gaze upon the Sacrament in which Christ consigned us the commemoration of His passion."

John Paul II affirmed that "the minds and hearts of so many faithful throughout the world turn towards this square. I invite everyone, individual believers and ecclesial communities from all corners of the earth, to share with us this moment of elevated Eucharistic spirituality. I especially ask children and the sick, as well as the contemplative orders, to offer their prayers for the happy and successful outcome of this world Eucharistic meeting.

"The call arises from the Eucharistic Congress to renew our faith in the real presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the altar: 'Ave, verum corpus!' At the same time comes the urgent appeal for the reconciliation and unity of all believers: 'One body ... one faith, one baptism!' Unfortunately, contrasts and divisions continue to lacerate the Body of Christ and prevent Christians from different confessions from sharing the single bread of the Eucharist. Consequently, together we invoke the healing power of divine mercy, so abundant in this Jubilee year."

More than one hundred Italian and foreign confraternities took part in the opening ceremony, among them the Spanish confraternity of Our Lady of Suffering of the Piarists of Granada, whom the Pope greeted at the end of his homily.

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