ROME, JUNE 22 (ZENIT.org)

    Thursday evening, at the height of the Jubilee, Rome witnessed the most overwhelming moments of the International Eucharistic Congress that is being celebrated this week. Today, the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, more than 70,000 faithful invaded the streets of the Eternal City to venerate the Eucharistic Christ in procession.

    Immersed in a river of humanity, John Paul II was kneeling, absorbed in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. He was carried by a vehicle adapted for the occasion, including a small altar where the monstrance was placed.

    It was preceded by two children, who, quite enchanted, dropped rose petals on the streets of Rome, as so many have done before them throughout the centuries in so many cities. Corpus Christi is a procession that has marked the subconscious of entire generations of Christians. In Rome, this tradition has been celebrated since the 15th century. The tradition was lost in the Eternal City in 1870, the year during which the Pope was forced to seek refuge within the Vatican walls during the vicissitudes of Italy's unification. But, as soon as he was elected Bishop of Rome, John Paul II restored this procession in 1979.

    However, on this Jubilee occasion, the Holy Father introduced a novelty, in light of the Holy Year, commemorating 2000 years since the birth of Christ, he wanted this event to be a simple and respectful profession of Christians' faith to the people of the city who appeared at windows, on street corners, in bars and squares, where they spend their daily life.

    "We will escort the Eucharistic sacrament with humble pride through the streets of the city, passing by the buildings where people reside, rejoice, and suffer; through stores and offices where daily life unfolds. We will put him in touch with our life, threatened by a thousand dangers, oppressed by worries and sorrows, subjected to the slow but inexorable passage of time," the Pope said during the Mass preceding the procession.

    The celebration began at 7 p.m. in the atrium of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of of Rome, dedicated to Christ the Savior, and Ss. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. The Pope celebrated Mass with 250 Bishops, 50 Cardinals, over 1,000 priests from all the inhabited continents, and masses of pilgrims filling the historic esplanade.

    It was an overwhelming moment, framed by a beautiful sunset, typical of Rome at this time of the year. A gentle, reddish sun bathed the buildings surrounding the Square.

    When the procession began, night was descending, and in no time thousands of pilgrims with burning candles became a luminous human river in honor of the Most Blessed Sacrament. ZE00062211

We encourage you to check the Catholic World News site at the CWN home page and Church News at Noticias Eclesiales and the Dossiers, features and Daily Dispatches from ZENIT International News Agency CWN, NE and ZENIT are not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC, but provide this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.