INTERNATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS CLOSES IN ROME

VATICAN CITY, JUN 25, 2000 (VIS) - At 6:30 p.m., the Holy Father presided at the "Statio Orbis" in St. Peter's Square marking the closure of the 47th International Eucharistic Congress whose theme has been "Jesus Christ, only Savior of the World, Bread for a New Life."

Thirty cardinals, 60 bishops and 1,000 priests, in Rome for the eucharistic congress, concelebrated with the Pope. Among the faithful were 10,000 children who have received first communion this year.

"From this square," said John Paul II in his homily, "we wish to repeat to the men and women of the third millennium the extraordinary announcement: for us, the Son of God was made flesh and He offered Himself in sacrifice for our salvation. He gives us His body and His blood as the sustenance of a new life, of a divine life that is no longer subject to death.

"With emotion we once again receive this gift from Christ's hands so that, through us, it may reach all families, all cities, the places of pain and the places where hope is forged in our time. The Eucharist is an infinite gift of love: in the bread and wine we recognize and adore the single and perfect sacrifice of Christ."

The Pope affirmed that from this 'Statio Orbis' his thoughts were already turning "to the solemn Eucharistic celebration that will close World Youth Day. My words go out to you, young people of Rome, of Italy and of the world: prepare yourselves with care for this international rendezvous of youth where you will be called to face the challenges of the third millennium."

HML;CLOSURE EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS;...;...;VIS;20000626;Word: 280;