Date and Theme Set for Eucharist

VATICAN CITY (Zenit.org) - Benedict XVI approved the date and theme for the next International Eucharistic Congress, to focus on the Eucharist as communion with Christ and with one another.

The Vatican press office reported today that the Pope approved the June 10-17, 2012, conference theme. The event will be held in Dublin, Ireland.

A communiqué explained that the theme is inspired in No. 7 of "Lumen Gentium": "Really partaking of the body of the Lord in the breaking of the Eucharistic bread, we are taken up into communion with Him and with one another. 'Because the bread is one, we though many, are one body, all of us who partake of the one bread' (1 Corinthians 10:17). In this way all of us are made members of His Body, (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:27) 'but severally members one of another' (Romans 12:5)."

In fact, this 50th Eucharistic congress will take place precisely on the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, which, according to Dublin's Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, was "a moment of renewal and further reflection on the teaching of the Church and of her self-understanding as Body of Christ and People of God."

Preparations

The Archdiocese of Dublin has already begun preparations, establishing a local committee that will be headed by its archbishop. Its secretary will be Father Kevin Doran, a consultor of the Congregation for Catholic Education.

The location for this congress, which is held every four years, was announced by Benedict XVI in his closing address at the previous congress, held in Quebec, Canada, in June of 2008.

On that occasion, the Holy Father thanked from beforehand the people of Ireland, expressing his trust that they, together with all the participants in the next congress, would find in it a source of lasting spiritual renewal.

This is the second congress to be held in the Irish city, the first having taken place in 1932 with the theme "The Eucharist and Ireland."