Vatican City, 1 February 2016 (VIS) –
Yesterday, 31 January, with the Holy Mass presided by Cardinal
Charles Maung Bo, S.D.B., archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar, the
pontifical legate closed the 51st International Eucharistic Council,
which began on 24 January in Cebu, Philippines, on the theme "Christ
in you, our hope of glory: the Eucharist, source and goal of the
Church's mission".
Following the Eucharistic celebration,
a video message from Pope Francis was broadcast, in which he
emphasises that the theme of the Congress "reminds us that the
risen Jesus always lives and is present in His Church, above all in
the Eucharist, the Sacrament of His Body and Blood. Christ’s
presence among us is not only a consolation, but also a promise and a
summons. It is a promise that everlasting joy and peace will one day
be ours in the fullness of his Kingdom. But it is also a summons to
go forth, as missionaries, to bring the message of the Father’s
tenderness, forgiveness and mercy to every man, woman and child".
The Holy Father invites reflection on
two gestures of Jesus at the Last Supper: table fellowship and the
washing of feet. With regard to the former, he recalls how important
it was for Jesus to share meals with his disciples, but also, and
especially, with sinners and the outcast. "Sitting at the table,
Jesus was able to listen to others, to hear their stories, to
appreciate their hopes and aspirations, and to speak to them of the
Father’s love. At each Eucharist, the table of the Lord’s Supper,
we should be inspired to follow His example, by reaching out to
others, in a spirit of respect and openness, in order to share with
them the gift we ourselves have received".
This is especially important in Asia,
where the Church is committed to "respectful dialogue with the
followers of other religions" and where "this prophetic
witness most often takes place, as we know, through the dialogue of
life". Through the testimony of "lives transformed by God’s
love, we best proclaim the Kingdom’s promise of reconciliation,
justice and unity for the human family. Our example can open hearts
to the grace of the Holy Spirit, Who leads them to Christ the
Saviour".
The other gesture, the washing of feet,
is "a sign of humble service, of the unconditional love with
which He gave his life on the Cross for the salvation of the world.
The Eucharist is a school of humble service. It teaches us readiness
to be there for others. This too is at the heart of missionary
discipleship". The Pope gives the example of the aftermath of
the typhoon that brought immense devastation to the Philippines, yet
it also brought in its wake an immense outpouring of solidarity,
generosity and goodness. "People set about rebuilding not just
homes, but lives. The Eucharist speaks to us of that power, which
flows from the Cross and constantly brings new life. It changes
hearts. It enables us to be caring, to protect the poor and the
vulnerable, and to be sensitive to the cry of our brothers and
sisters in need. It teaches us to act with integrity and to reject
the injustice and corruption which poison the roots of society".
Pope Francis concluded by announcing
that the next International Eucharistic Congress will take place in
2020 in Budapest, Hungary.
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