SOLEMNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI: MASS AND EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION

VATICAN CITY, JUN 22, 2000 (VIS) - At 7 p.m. today, Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Pope presided at a Eucharistic celebration in the square in front of St. John Lateran. Cardinals, archbishops, bishops and all priests present in Rome concelebrated with the Holy Father. The event marked the occasion of the 47th International Eucharistic Congress.

In his homily, John Paul II made reference to the Gospel account of the multiplication of the loaves, saying: "It was a wonderful and prodigious event that constituted the beginning of a long historical process: the ceaseless multiplication, within the Church, of the bread of new life for men and women of all races and cultures. This sacramental ministry is entrusted to the Apostles and their successors. They, faithful to the divine Master's command, never cease to break and distribute the Eucharistic bread from one generation to another. The people of God receive it with devotion. This bread of life, medicine of immortality, has nourished innumerable saints and martyrs."

"We wish to stay with Christ and for this reason, like Peter, we say to Him: 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.' Today, with the same conviction as Peter, we kneel before the Sacrament of the altar and renew our profession of faith in the real presence of Christ."

The Holy Father affirmed that this was "the meaning of today's celebration, that the International Eucharistic Congress in the Jubilee Year underlines with particular force. This is also the meaning of the solemn procession that, as it does every year, will soon lead from this square to the Basilica of St. Mary Major."

Following Mass, the Pope presided at a Eucharistic procession that passed along Rome's Via Merulana to the Basilica of St. Mary Major. On the way, 80,000 faithful prayed and sang, accompanying the Blessed Sacrament. A covered vehicle transported the Sacrament in a mostrance, before which the Holy Father prayed, kneeling on a prie-dieu.

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