INTERNATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS STARTS JUNE 18

VATICAN CITY, JUN 9, 2000 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office there was the presentation of the 47th International Eucharistic Congress which will take place in Rome from June 18 to 25 on the theme "Jesus Christ, One Savior of the World, The Bread of New Life."

Cardinal Edouard Gagnon, president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, recalled that the objective of Eucharistic congresses is to "deepen our knowledge of this holy mystery" and "to venerate it through prayer and pious exercises, especially the solemn procession, keeping in mind however, that all forms of piety have their culminating moment in the solemn celebration of Mass."

The first Eucharistic congress, said the Canadian prelate, took place in Lille, France, in 1881. This summer will be the third time that Rome hosts such a congress, following those of 1905 and 1922.

Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, stated that the theme "underlines the strong mission dimension of the Eucharist. For this reason, the congress "is a missionary event which wishes to proclaim with force and visibility, before everyone, the centrality of the Eucharist for the life of the world."

"Concretely," he continued, "it is starting with the Eucharist that Christians know how to renew not only their personal existence but also the life of the family, of society, and of all cultural and civic milieux."

The cardinal vicar of Rome then announced "an initiative of Rome's clergy, which has been followed by other diocesan priests: to facilitate the participation of priests from poor dioceses of the Third and Fourth World, Roman priests are making themselves available in a great way, both financial and logistical."

Further, he said, "in all Roman parishes, in the houses of religious, the week of the congress will be an occasion for constant prayer - day and night - of Eucharistic adoration and thanksgiving to the Lord. This is also a concrete way to inspire a broader and more genuine participation in this event by many Romans."

Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia, vicegerent of the diocese of Rome, spoke about the program of the congress, which starts on Sunday, June 18 at 6 p.m. in St. Peter's with vespers of the Most Holy Trinity. There will be public catechesis on the Eucharist at St. John Lateran from Tuesday to Saturday mornings, with the participation of ecclesiastics and a series of witnesses by lay people involved in evangelization or in service to the poor.

During the entire week, said Archbishop Nosiglia, there will be perpetual Eucharistic adoration in the city, day and night. There will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every day in many churches and chapels, especially in the city's historic center. Parishes and religious institutes will organize night prayer in shifts.

As to participation in the eucharistic congress: More than 90 episcopal conferences will be present with delegations of bishops, priests, religious and laity. First communion children, accompanied by their families, have been invited by the Pope to the "Statio orbis," the concluding ceremony of the congress, on June 25 at 6:30 p.m. in St. Peter's Square.

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