Year of Eucharist should be a strong time of encountering Christ, says Pope

Vatican City, Oct 17, 2004 / 22:00 pm

During the noon Angelus in St. Peter’s Square yesterday, Pope John Paul II spoke about the Year of the Eucharist, which was inaugurated yesterday, and expressed his gratitude for the prayers and well wishes of the faithful on his 26th anniversary.

Pointing to the International Euchristic Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, the Pope said that "for one week the Eucharist has been celebrated and adored as the 'light and life of the new millennium'. 'Light' because the presence of Christ, Light of the world, shines forth in the Eucharistic mystery. 'Life' because in the Eucharist Christ has given Himself, the Bread of life, to us."

"In the wake of Vatican Council II and the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000,” he said, “the Year of the Eucharist should be a strong time of encountering Christ, present in this sacrament of His Body and His Blood.”

“In this mystery He brings about sacramentally His paschal sacrifice that redeemed mankind from the slavery of sin and established the divine Kingdom of love, justice and peace," continued the Pope.

At the end of the Angelus prayer the Holy Father said: "I wish to express great gratitude to everyone who, on the anniversary of my election to the Chair of Peter, expressed their best wishes and assured me of their prayers.”

“While I ask the Lord to comfort each person with the abundance of His gifts, I entrust myself to Him and I ask, through the intercession of Mary Most Holy, for His constant help for the fruitful exercise of my ministry in the Church."