VATICAN (CWNews.com)

    Catholics from all around the world assembled in the Roman basilica of St. John Lateran on June 20, to hear the first catechetical address of the International Eucharistic Congress, delivered by Cardinal Francis George of Chicago.

    Cardinal George focused his talk on the Eucharistic presence of Christ among men. He delivered his address in Italian, while interpreters provided simultaneous translation into several different languages to assure that most listeners would have no trouble understanding his remarks.

    "Nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ, Christians should transform the global society," the American cardinal said. "It is the Eucharist that gives us the courage to evangelize."

    Cardinal George said that Christians should "give themselves completely," using their human freedom to consecrate themselves to the service of others. He suggested that an improper understanding of human freedom has contributed to serious ills in today's world. "The crisis of marriage and of consecrated life in the world is a crisis of freedom," he said.

    Following Cardinal George, Jean Vanier-- the founder of the L'Arche community, which is dedicated to serving the handicapped-- said that "we must recognize the presence of Christ in the handicapped," but added that "in order to recognize that presence, we must discover the Eucharist."

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