Vatican City, Sep 4, 2005 / 22:00 pm
On Sunday, during his noontime Angelus prayer, Pope Benedict XVI challenged Catholic faithful to participate in the preparatory phase of the upcoming worldwide Synod of Catholic Bishops "with prayer and reflection" and stressed the need for devotion to the Eucharist in the daily life of the Church.
The synod will conclude the Year of the Eucharist, instituted by Pope John Paul II in October of 2004 "to reawaken among Christian people faith, wonder and love for this great Sacrament that constitutes the true treasure of the Church."
Thousands of faithful were on hand yesterday as the Holy Father reiterated that the focus of the synod will be: "The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church."
The Pope also praised the central role of the Eucharist at last month's World Youth Day in Germany, specifically recalling Saturday night's vigil at Marienfeld, "which had its culminating moment in the adoration of the Eucharist."