Instrumentum mensis Octobris pro lectura Magisterii Summi Pontifici Benedicti XVI, pro evangelizatione in terris missionum

Saturday, 12 November 2005

The celebration of the 11th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme “Eucharist, source and summit of the Church’s life and mission” an event which closed the Year of the Eucharist was the central event in the life of the Church this month. From October 2 to 23 over 250 Synod Fathers from all over the world gathered in the Vatican, around the Holy Father, Benedict XVI present all through the assembly, to reflect and pray on the mystery of the Eucharist. During his weekly appointments on Sundays for the Angelus and on Wednesdays for the general audience the Holy Father did not fail to underline the importance of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Church calling everyone to be spiritually united with the work of the Synod . On two occasions Pope Benedict XVI recalled his predecessor Pope John Paul II who convoked both the Year of the Eucharist and the Synod assembly. The activity of the Synod was marked by moments of prayer and also a festive meeting in St Peter’s Square between Pope Benedict XVI and over a hundred thousand children who made the First Holy Communion in the last 12 months for a catechesis on the Eucharist and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. On Mission Sunday, the day of the closing of the Synod, during Mass for the canonisation of new Saints the Pope underlined once again the close bond between Eucharist and Mission and said that all the Saints drew impulse and strength for mission from the sacrament of the Eucharist.


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