Vatican City, Oct 10, 2004 / 22:00 pm
This morning Pope John Paul II received youth from the diocese of Rome who are participating in a mission to their peers entitled “Jesus Downtown,” in preparation for the Year of the Eucharist, and told them that “Eucharist and mission are two inseperable realities,” and that true Eucharistic adoration must lead to mission, or it is not authentic.
"Eucharist and mission are two inseparable realities. ... Authentic celebration and adoration of the Eucharist that does not lead to mission does not exist. At the same time, mission assumes another essential Eucharistic characteristic: union of hearts."
The Holy Father said that such pastoral initiatives "introduce us in this special time of grace for the entire Church" to the Year of the Eucharist.
John Paul II expressed his hope to the youths that "this pastoral experience, which is an authentic school of communion and new evangelization, will continue and expand. I encourage you to continue so that the creativity and generosity that you demonstrate in these days may become a stimulus for the entire Church of Rome to keep its missionary spirit alive."