Pope Francis delivered a speical message about the Eucharist in a private audience.
POPE FRANCIS
The Eucharist is God's answer to the deepest hunger of the human heart, the hunger for true life: in it, Christ himself is really in our midst to nourish us, console us and sustain us on our journey.
He welcomed members of the United States' Eucharistic Revivial initiative, that includes an over 6,000 mile pilgrimage across the country and a National Congress.
80,000 people are expected to attend the Congress that will take place in Indianapolis in 2024 at an important time in the Church.
TIM GLEMKOWSKI
Director, National Eucharistic Congress
I think we're in a moment right now where the world is hurting—I know that's really obvious—but the Church is also hurting in so many different ways. And so to have a reconnection, and a bringing back to a relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist, to me there is a simplicity and a beauty to coming back to that first love and encounter that really cuts through so much of the noise.
Pope Francis blessed the monstrance that will be used at the Congress and encouraged the members to continue their mission.
BP. KEVIN RHOADES
Eucharistic Revival, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
He talked about the importance of how Eucharist leads to mission and that really we are to be missionaries of the Eucharist. Again, the idea that we are nourished by the love of Christ in the Eucharist and we're nourished really to serve—to go out and to serve.
Their meeting with Pope Francis left leaders of America's National Eucharistic Revival even more inspired and hopeful for their initative that leads up to the 2025 jubilee year.
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