“How much today’s humankind needs to rediscover in the Eucharistic Sacrament the source of its hope!”. This was stated by Benedict XVI, this morning, as he received in audience the members of the Papal Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses and the National Delegates gathered over these days in a plenary assembly in the run-up to the 49th International Eucharistic Congress (Québec, Canada, June 2008). “Eucharistic Congresses, which are hosted by different places and different continents noted the Pope , are always a source of spiritual renewal, an opportunity to make the Most Holy Eucharist better known” and “are also an encouragement for the Church to spread Christ’s love in every area of society and bear evidence of it, without hesitation”. As he mentioned the subject of the next Eucharistic Congress (The Eucharist, God’s gift for the life of the world), Benedict XVI highlighted the "rediscovery of the Eucharistic adoration by many Christians” and, in expressing his wish "that this practice may become more and more widespread", he recalled "last year’s experience with the young in Cologne for the World Youth Day and that in Saint Peter’s Square with the children of the First Communion”.
