52nd International Eucharistic Congress opens in Budapest – PHOTOS

“The Eucharist is the source for the life and mission of Christians,” Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, said addressing opening mass of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest on Sunday.

The cardinal prayed to God that participants, “especially during the week of the congress”, would feel “Christ is with us at the Eucharist, and he will not abandon the Church, peoples or mankind”.

Erdő welcomed Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, the head of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe, the first celebrant of the opening mass, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, the head of the foreign affairs office of the Moscow Patriarchate, as well as 1,200 children receiving first communion.

Bagnasco told the gathering that “Christ’s light radiates through the Church despite all the weaknesses and sins of its members”. “You are not alone in the middle of a hostile universe … wherever you are, God will look down on you with his love,” the cardinal said, adding that “the Eucharist will overcome any solitude, distance and indifference”.

52nd Intl Eucharistic Congress opens in Budapest
52nd International Eucharistic Congress opens in Budapest. Photo: MTI

The opening mass was concelebrated by 100 bishops and some 300 priests. The participants filled Heroes’ Square and a part of Andrassy Avenue.

The event was attended by President János Áder and First Lady Anita Herczegh, Anikó Lévai, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s wife, Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, András Zs. Varga, the president of the supreme court, Human Resources Minister Miklós Kásler, Chief Prosecutor Péter Polt, and other dignitaries.

Between Monday and Friday, lectures on Christian subjects will be offered all day at the Hungexpo grounds, while concerts and other performances will be held in Széll Kalman and Örs vezer squares in the afternoons.

Concerts, folk dance performances and book shows will also be held in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica.

52nd Intl Eucharistic Congress opens in Budapest
52nd International Eucharistic Congress opens in Budapest. Photo: MTI

The Congress’s closing mass will be celebrated by Pope Francis at Heroes’ Square next Sunday. Hungary is hosting the event for the second time since 1938. Originally scheduled to be held in 2020, the event was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: MTI

One comment

  1. The Holy Spirit – the third person of the Trinity.
    Heroes Square – busting, radiating in It’s – abundance – moving within all – the “presence” of the Holy Spirit – amongst the Faithful.
    ABANDONMENT – is not in the Vocabulary – of Christ Jesus.
    He talks to us :
    “Come as You are, that’s how I want You
    Come as You are feel quite at home.
    Close to my Heart – Loved and Forgiven !
    Come as You are – Why stand alone ?

    Christ Jesus – his Un-Conditional Love – his Mercy and Forgiveness.
    His Promise to US – that he would Never – Abandoned us nor Mankind – his Children.

    Come as you Are – Christ Jesus invites us – it will not be a complicated Friendship – but built on and around Trust and Love – that we will live and Share – to-gether.
    Come to Me – keep it simple but lets just Talk – don’t be Afraid – the Tenderness of my Love for you will Comfort and Warm you.

    Trust me – through your Faith and Belief in Me.
    Come – Follow Me – Talk with Me – and YOU will experience – my LISENING – that promises you – Mercy and Forgiveness – and New Life.

    The presence of the Holy Spirit in our Lives – ALWAYS – that in our – Words -our – Thoughts and Deeds – that are “creeds” – of the Holy Roman Catholic Church – we ALL are – Instruements of the Peace and Love of Christ Jesus.

    “I leave you ALL in good Spirits” – have you heard that expression ?
    That is what Christ Jesus – his ascension into Heaven, to sit at the Right hand of his Father – that was his MESSAGE to US.
    My Spirit – I leave ALWAYS with You.

    The Trinity – the Father,the Son and Holy Spirit – never leaves us – nor Abandons us.

    Speak to me – SIMPLE – for Iam hear waiting – just Come as You Are – Nothing can Change the LOVE that I bear YOU – have in Abundance for YOU – All will be Well – just COME as YOU are.

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