The Year of the Eucharist is a time of intense missionary commitment, Pope says

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – This afternoon, the Pope will solemnly inaugurate the Year of the Eucharist, a "time of intense encounter with Christ" and "commitment to spreading His message of salvation".

Before the Angelus was recited, John Paul II spoke about the Year of the Eucharist. After the Marian prayer, he expressed his "deepest gratitude to those who wished me well and prayed for me on the anniversary of my election to the See of Saint Peter". He then commended his pontificate once again to Mary and asked for "Her constant help in making his Ministry in the Church rewarding".

The Pope –who was looking well– told the 30,000 people gathered in St Peter's Square that "in the Mexican city of Guadalajara the International Eucharistic Congress was coming to an end. For eight days," he said, "the Eucharist was celebrated and adored as the 'light and life of the new millennium: 'Light' because the presence of Christ –Light of the world– radiates from the Eucharistic mystery; 'Life' because Jesus –the Bread of Life– gave himself to us through the Eucharist."

The Pontiff added that "this afternoon I shall preside over a Eucharistic celebration in spiritual communion with the great summons in Guadalajara. This way I shall solemnly open the Year of the Eucharist scheduled to last until October 2005."

"Following the path laid down by the Second Vatican Council and the Great Jubilee of 2000, the Year of the Eucharist is time of intense encounter with Christ who is present in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood. Through this mystery, He sacramentally realises his paschal sacrifice which redeemed humanity from the enslavement of sin and established God's Kingdom of love, justice and peace."

"As I say in the encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia, it is from the Pasch of Christ that the Church was born and for this reason she "lives in the Eucharist".

By way of conclusion, the Pope said: "Together, let us call on the Virgin Mary to help the Christian people live the Year of the Eucharist as time of deep conversion to Christ and intense commitment to spreading his message of salvation".

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