ROME (CNS): As more Europeans are vaccinated and Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) cases continue to decrease, organisers of the upcoming 52nd International Eucharistic Congress, slated to be held in September in Budapest, Hungary, are optimistic that pilgrims will be able attend the event in person rather than online.
At a news conference in Budapest on May 13, the organisers told journalists they are preparing for an “offline congress,” which will culminate with the closing Mass on September 12, to celebrated by Pope Francis in the city’s Heroes’ Square.
Although the Vatican has not officially confirmed the papal visit, the pope told journalists that he planned on celebrating the final Mass of the International Eucharistic Congress and hinted at a possible visit to Slovakia.
“Budapest is a two-hour drive from Bratislava. Why not pay a visit to the Slovaks?” he asked during a news conference aboard the papal flight from Iraq on March 8.
According to the organisers—Auxiliary Bishop Gábor Mohos of Esztergom-Budapest, Tünde Zsuffa, head of communications, and Father Kornél Fábry, secretary general of the event—the September 5 opening will include “a grandiose opening ceremony featuring a 1,000-member choir.”
Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu, the Philippines, “will travel the longest distance, nearly 11,000 kilometres to be part of this event,” the congress’ website stated.
Also confirmed to be taking part in the congress are Archbishop Piero Marini, president of the International Committee for the International Eucharist Congress; Andrew Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul, South Korea; Orani João Cardinal Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Louis Cardinal Sako, the Chaldean Catholic patriarch of Iraq; and Robert Cardinal Sarah from Guinea, former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.
At the closing Mass, a 120-member Hungarian Opera orchestra and choir, as well as “a grand choir of 2,080 singers arriving from all corners of Hungary, will be among the performers,” organisers said.
