Pope’s Message on Argentina’s National Eucharistic Congress
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis sent a personal message to Archbishop Jose Maria Arancedo who presided over Argentina’s National Eucharistic Congress that took place from June 16th to 19th. In his brief message to the archbishop who’s President of the Argentine Catholic Bishops Conference, the Pope wrote that there was a need “to draw closer to each other at this moment, to not be afraid and to allow yourselves to be permeated by God’s love.”
“I know the difficulties that you are living through,” he wrote, and may God strengthen us in our faith “so we can confront the difficulties and increase justice and charity between us and above all to serve the poor and the needy.”
The Eucharistic Congress came shortly before Argentina marks the 200th anniversary of the nation’s independence from Spain and the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, had already sent a message in early June on behalf of Pope Francis expressing his closeness to those attending the Eucharistic Congress.