May It Be “a moment of profound grace”: Pope Leo XIV on Malawi’s First-Ever National Eucharistic Congress

Lilongwe, 06 August, 2025 / 9:37 PM

Pope Leo XIV has called upon the people of God in Malawi to make their first-ever national Eucharistic Congress a time of “profound grace” and an opportunity to rekindle missionary zeal in their country.

In his message read out during the official opening of the Congress on Tuesday, August 5 at Our Lady of Africa Maula Cathedral of Malawi’s Lilongwe Catholic Archdiocese, the Holy Father conveyed “paternal greetings and apostolic blessings” to the people of God in the Southern African nation.

In the message that the Apostolic Nuncio in Malawi and Zambia, Archbishop Gian Luca Perici, read out, Pope Leo XIV expressed his spiritual solidarity and made known his prayer that the five-day Congress becomes “a moment of profound grace for the entire Church” in Malawi.

“May it be a moment to deepen the love for the Most Holy Eucharist, strengthen the bonds of communion among the people of God and inspire a renewed missionary zeal in every Diocese, Parish and family,” the Holy Father implored.

He expressed hope that the spiritual event realized under the theme, “Eucharist, Source and Summit of Pilgrims of Hope”, will be “a true moment of renewal, evangelization and unity.”

“Gathered around the altar of the Lord, we are reminded that the Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life, the mystery of faith that builds the Church and sustains her mission in the world,” says the Holy Father in the August 4 message.

He goes on to urge the people of God in Malawi to “journey together adoring, celebrating and witnessing the living presence of Christ in the Eucharist.”

Earlier, ahead of the Eucharistic Congress, the National Pastoral Coordinator in Malawi told ACI Africa that members of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishop (MCCB) hope the spiritual initiative will “result in personal and communal transformation.”

“We envision participants returning to their communities renewed in faith and committed to living and sharing the transformative power of the Eucharist in their daily lives,” Fr. Joseph Sikwese said during the July 8 interview.

Meanwhile, after delivering the Holy Father’s message and formally opening the Eucharistic Congress, the Apostolic Nuncio in Zambia reflected on the August 5-9 spiritual initiative, describing it as one that “speaks directly to the heart of the Church.”

“It is a powerful message that emphasizes the importance of our faith as a Eucharistic community working together on the pilgrimage of hope,” said Archbishop Perici in his August 4 remarks.

The representative of the Holy Father in Malawi and Zambia lauded MCCB members for making the Eucharistic Congress “a key part of the national celebration for the Jubilee Year 2025”, which, he added, “is a special time of grace, renewal and hope for the universal Church.”

The Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, which Pope Francis officially launched on the Eve of Christmas 2024 with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica “invites each of us to deepen our understanding and love for the Eucharist, which is the heart of the mission of the Church,” Archbishop Perici said.

“The Eucharist is not just a part of what we do, it is what we are,” said the Italian-born Vatican diplomat.

He urged the people of God in Malawi to seize the opportunity that the maiden national Eucharistic Congress provides to recommit themselves “to spreading the Gospel and helping others” particularly the marginalized.

“Thank you for this initiative, because it makes the Church in Malawi a true and relevant presence in the joys and struggles of its people,” Archbishop Perici said.

Alluding to the multi-year Synod on Synodality that Pope Francis extended to 2024, he added, “As people of hope, we must ensure we do not walk alone, leaving the marginalized behind; we must walk with them, supporting them in their struggles. This is the only way we can continue to give hope to each other as a Eucharistic community.”

“May Mary, Our Mother and Lady of Good Counsel, be with us through her prayers and motherly care on our journey of faith and throughout this Congress,” he said.