The Pope wanted to come, the Nuncio had said and explained, “The Holy See has made it clear to the Congolese authorities that his visit is conditioned on the organization of the elections which are established by its constitution.”
“Before that (election), there is a danger of manipulation and exploitation of the Holy Father’s visit, either to support the continuation of an illegitimate government or for those who hope to expel the regime according to the popular movements,” he added.
The appointment of Cardinal Tagle to represent Pope Francis at the Congress was made public Wednesday, March 18 at the Vatican and published by the Holy See Press Office.
Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Tagle, while serving the Archbishop of Manila, Philippines, as the head of Propaganda Fide Prefect in December 2019, taking over from Fernando Cardinal Filoni.
The 62-year-old Filipino Prelate doubles as the President of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 165 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide.
He is also the President of the Catholic Biblical Federation (CBF), which is the "Catholic world fellowship of administratively distinct international and local organizations committed to biblical pastoral ministry." The federation is divided into regions and subregions, including Africa, Europe, Middle East, Asia, Oceania, North America, and Latin America. He was unanimously elected during the October 2014 ordinary meeting of the Executive Committee of CBF and had his election confirmed by Pope Francis in March 2015, taking over from Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia.
In a bid to popularize the DRC June Congress among the faithful, Bishop Sikuli described the spiritual gathering as “an opportunity to show our faith in the Eucharist, which is the sign of the presence of the dead and risen Jesus, who is in our midst.”
The Local Ordinary of DR Congo’s Butembo-Beni diocese further described the Congress as a “great ecclesial event of high spiritual significance,” which will be “a strong time of prayer and spiritual renewal” for the Church-Family of God in the DRC.
According to Catholic Encyclopedia, Eucharistic Congresses are gatherings of Church leaders and lay faithful for the purpose of celebrating and glorifying the Holy Eucharist and of seeking the best means to spread its knowledge and love throughout the world.
To be convened under the theme, “Eucharist and Family,” the DRC Congress will be “a public, solemn and community manifestation of the faith to which all the sons and daughters of the Catholic Church as well as men and women of goodwill are invited,” the 68-year-old Congolese Prelate said last September.
