Scottish Catholic Observer

The Vatican has announced two new special events to mark the Year of Faith—a worldwide Eucharistic adoration and a day celebrating the Evangelium Vitae.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation, accompanied by his undersecretary Fr Graham Bell of Scotland, spoke of what they said would be ‘historic’ events at a press conference at the Vatican this morning.

The Worldwide Eucharistic Adoration will be broadcast from St Peter’s Basilica next Sunday, June 2, from 4pm-5pm GMT.

“It will be an event occurring for the first time in the history of the Church which is why we can describe it as ‘historic’,” Archbishop Fisichella said. “The cathedrals of the world will be synchronised with Rome and will, for an hour, be in communion with the Pope in Eucharistic adoration. There has been an incredible response to this initiative, going beyond the cathedrals and involving episcopal conferences, parishes, lay associations, and religious congregations, especially cloistered ones.”

The archbishop said that ‘from the Cook Islands to Chile, Burkina Faso, Taiwan, Iraq, Bangladesh, the United States, and the Philippines,’ the dioceses will be synchronised with St Peter’s and will pray for the intentions proposed by the Pope.

The first intention is: “For the Church spread throughout the world and united today in the adoration of the Most Holy Eucharist as a sign of unity. May the Lord make her ever more obedient to hearing his Word in order to stand before the world ‘ever more beautiful, without stain or blemish, but holy and blameless.’ That through her faithful announcement, the Word that saves may still resonate as the bearer of mercy and may increase love to give full meaning to pain and suffering, giving back joy and serenity.”

Pope Francis’ second intention is: “For those around the world who still suffer slavery and who are victims of war, human trafficking, drug running, and slave labour. For the children and women who are suffering from every type of violence. May their silent scream for help be heard by a vigilant Church so that, gazing upon the crucified Christ, she may not forget the many brothers and sisters who are left at the mercy of violence. Also, for all those who find themselves in economically precarious situations, above all for the unemployed, the elderly, migrants, the homeless, prisoners, and those who experience marginalization. That the Church’s prayer and its active nearness give them comfort and assistance in hope and strength and courage in defending human dignity.”

The day celebrating the Evangelium Vitae, entitled Believing May They Have Life, will take place from June 15-16.

”We have given it this name to testify to the grand theme that revolves around the Church’s commitment to the promotion, respect, and dignity of human life,” Archbishop Fisichella said. “Pope Francis will preside at Sunday Mass at 10.30am with the entire ‘people of life’ to address his message and to show his care to them as well as to all the ill who will be present at the celebration.” In the evening of the previous day, Saturday 15 June, starting at 8:30pm,“a silent, candle-lit procession will be held along Via della Conciliazione in order to call attention to the theme of human life and its intangible value. It will conclude in St. Peter’s Square where several meaningful testimonials will be given.

Already, groups from the US, Germany, Japan, Hungary, Romania, Spain, France, Canada, New Zealand, Argentina, Britain, Belgium, Slovakia, Costa Rica, Portugal, and Australia have registered their participation.