CV NEWS FEED // With a solemn Mass presided by papal delegate Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the 10th National Eucharistic Congress concluded on a high note and the surprise announcement of the next Eucharistic Congress.
The Eucharistic Congress took place in Indianapolis and gathered more than 50,000 Catholics from across the United States. Over 1000 priests and 200 cardinals and bishops were in attendance for the five days of motivational speeches, catechetical conferences, and plenty of moments of Eucharistic adoration, prayers, and Masses.
Eight thousand of the attendees were under 25 years old – including many seminarians and religious novices – and 5,000 were under 18.
During the closing Mass held at the Lucas Oil Stadium, Tagle said in his homily that Pope Francis sent greetings to U.S. Catholics attending the Congress. Tagle also carried this message from the pope: “Convert to the Eucharist.”
Tagle explained during his homily that every Mass ends with the sending of the faithful: “Go in peace.” “So, do not stay in the temple… go!” the Filipino cardinal added.
The most emotional moment came when Archbishop of Indianapolis Charles Coleman Thompson announced that the U.S. bishops have agreed to hold the 11th National Eucharistic Congress in the year 2033, the 2000th anniversary of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The previous National Eucharistic Congress, the 9th, was held in Minneapolis-St. Paul in 1941.
Thompson also announced that, considering the enthusiasm and Eucharistic revival elicited by the four simultaneous Eucharistic pilgrimages that preceded this year’s Congress, a single Eucharistic pilgrimage will take place in 2025 from Indianapolis to Los Angeles.
“Archbishop (José) Gomez (of Los Angeles) wants you to know that all pilgrims will be welcome in Los Angeles for the feast of Corpus Christi,” Bishop Thompson said. In 2025, the feast of Corpus Christi will fall on Sunday, June 22.
