MEXICO: LOCATION OF THE NEXT EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 25, 2000 (VIS) - Shortly before praying the angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II announced that the next International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico, in the year 2004.

The Pope recalled that over the last few days, Rome has been "the city of the Eucharist" and he referred to the conclusion this evening of the International Eucharistic Congress which has been considering the theme "Jesus Christ, only Savior of the World, Bread for a New Life."

"We firmly believe," he said, "that Christ is the only Savior of the world. He is the Mediator of the new and eternal Covenant. ... A Covenant open to all people in anticipation of the great eschatological banquet announced by the prophets of Israel. In the light of this truth, the Church does not despise the various religious experiences that man adopts in order to bring himself closer to God and receive His purification; on the contrary she favors a profitable inter-religious dialogue. However, at the same time she has to say clearly that Christ is the only Redeemer, the Son of God who for us was made flesh, died and rose again."

John Paul II closed by entrusting to the Virgin Mary the fruits of the recently-concluded Eucharistic Congress and the success of the next one. "May Mary," he concluded, "who lived in intimate and constant communion with Jesus, Word made flesh, help all Christians to recognize in the Eucharist the living presence of her divine Son, to welcome Him with faith and to invoke Him with love."

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