September 9, 2023 / 02:36 PM
On Friday, September 8, the Archbishop of Quito (Ecuador), Bishop Alfredo José Espinoza, began the Year of the Eucharist, which will end on September 15, 2024 with the closing Mass of the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC 2024, its acronym in English).
From September 8 to 15, 2024, Quito will host the 53rd International Eucharistic Congress with the motto “Fraternity to heal the world.” Pope Francis chose the Ecuadorian capital taking into account that next year will mark the 150th anniversary of the country’s consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Thus, as part of the path towards the international congress, yesterday Bishop Espinoza presented the Base Document that will “give it theological, pastoral and missionary foundation,” reports the IEC 2024 Press Office in a statement.
“This act—by decree of the Archbishop of Quito—marks the beginning of the ‘Year of the Eucharist,’” he adds.
During the event, Bishop Alfredo Espinoza thanked the Pontifical Committee for Eucharistic Congresses and the Theological Commission for preparing this document “which will serve as inspiration to make a preparatory path towards this great ecclesial event.”
Mons. David de la Torre, Auxiliary Bishop of Quito and president of the Theological Commission, recalled that the motto of the event was chosen by Pope Francis, which is in direct relationship with the encyclical Fratelli tutti.
Yesterday the official website and social networks of the IEC 2024 were also presented, through which the faithful will be able to find out about the progress of the preparations for the International Eucharistic Congress.
The Press Office indicates that the Plenary Assembly will take place from September 11 to 15, 2023, which “will also be attended by representatives of the episcopal conferences of the world and members of the Pontifical Committee for Eucharistic Congresses.