Sydney expects to welcome Pope Leo in 2028

New Zealand-born Bishop Richard Umbers, who is Eucharist28 CEO, told a February 9 press conference at Syndey’s St Mary’s Cathedral: “Archbishop Anthony Fisher was in Rome speaking to Pope Leo. He said to him, ‘Look, we’re counting down the days for you to come to the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC)’ which will be held here in 2028 and the Pope said, ‘Well, it’s still a way off, but I’ll be there.’”

Bishop Umbers said the IEC will run for one week, to commence with an opening Mass.  

“And then one would expect, if the Pope is able to make it, which we really hope he does, in the latter part of that week he will be involved in a very, very long and large eucharistic procession, which will be very exciting,” Bishop Umbers said.  

“And then there will be a final Mass. As we’ve seen with previous papal visits, it also brings people [from] all over the world.” 

Bishop Umbers was reluctant to forecast attendance at the final Mass. But he said, “given that there are 5 million Catholics in Australia, we expect hundreds of thousands to attend the Mass, and to be at the conference, and many to come from overseas”.

He added that the presence of Pope Leo XIV should make the event even more attractive.

“It will be a tremendous boost to the faith of the faithful and to seekers,” said Bishop Umbers, “because the opportunity it presents to hear directly from the successor of Peter will move hearts with the help of the Holy Spirit.”   

As Fr Robert Prevost, the Pope visited Australia several times as a member of the Augustinian Fathers.

Bishop Umbers expressed the hope that “Eucharist28 will invigorate people in their faith, to appreciate the presence of Jesus among us and, through spiritual conversion, return to their parish renewed and on fire with love for the Lord”.

On the day after the Pope’s installation in May last year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited him to visit Sydney for the IEC. Since Pope Leo is the head of a government, the Holy See, diplomatic protocol is such that the Australian government extend to him a formal invitation and he respond to that invitation.  

FULL STORY

Sydney to welcome Pope Leo in 2028 (By Michael Cook/The Catholic Weekly)

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