(National Catholic Reporter. Brian Fraga).
Taking a different tactic from his previous addresses to the U.S. Catholic bishops, the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States on June 13 affirmed the prelates’ preparations for a National Eucharistic Revival and National Eucharistic Congress. In his opening address to the bishops’ annual spring assembly, Cardinal Christophe Pierre told the U.S. bishops that Pope Francis shared their desire that Catholics in the United States “rediscover the power of the Eucharist” and that they embrace practices meant to reinforce eucharistic piety, such as adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. “We want our people to come to a renewed and deeper appreciation of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. We want them to know that Christ is there for them in the Eucharist, to accompany them in their earthly journey, and to feed them with the bread of life,” Pierre said. The nuncio’s remarks signified a departure in tone and substance from his most recent speeches to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which is meeting June 12-14 in Louisville, Kentucky. At both the spring and fall meetings in 2023, Pierre appeared to reference the resistance among conservative U.S. Catholics and some bishops as he challenged the American hierarchy to embrace Francis’ vision for a synodal church.