15,000 delegates seen to attend Cebu eucharistic congress

MANILA, Philippines - Some 15,000 foreign and local delegates are expected to attend the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) that would be held in Cebu on Jan. 24-31, 2016.

No less than the four cardinals – Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, emeritus Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, and emeritus Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal – were present in Tuesday’s launch of the IEC.

This is the second time that the Philippines would host the IEC. In 1937 Manila was the venue of the 33rd IEC.

The two senior cardinals recalled that they were among those present during the 1937 IEC in Manila.

Vidal, 83, recalled that he was six years old then and was one of those who received their first communion at the IEC.

For his part, Rosales, who turns 82 on Aug. 10, said he was only four years old when his parents took him to Manila for the IEC event.

He said his mother would light the candle she got from the 33rd IEC during special family occasions such as birthdays, baptisms, and first communions.

On the Cebu IEC theme “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” Tagle reminded the Filipino faithful to continue to have hope in God. 

Asked if Pope Francis would attend the Cebu congress, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the 51st IEC, said they are praying and hoping that the pontiff would grace the event.

It was earlier reported that Pope Francis would visit the country in January next year, and plans to visit areas hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda.