Benedict XVI Eager for Document on Eucharist

Exhortation to Sum Up Conclusions of '05 Synod

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 1, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says he is anxious to publish the document that will bring together the conclusions of last year's Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist.

The Pope shared that view today with participants in the third meeting of the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, which assists the Pontiff in writing the postsynodal apostolic exhortation.

"In 'ad limina' visits bishops asked me: 'But when will the postsynodal text finally come?'" the Holy Father revealed. "And I replied: 'They are working on it. They will not take too long.'"

Seeing the bishops present, the Pope said that thanks to their "competence I myself can only hope to see this text and learn from it shortly, which might be published later for the use of the whole Church which truly awaits it."

The Synod's Secretariat assists the Pope by bringing together and ordering the proposals that arose in the synodal assembly last October on the topic "The Eucharist, Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church."

Source

"The Eucharist is above all the source and secret of the permanent impulse of our mission," Benedict XVI said. "In fact, in his ecclesial existence the bishop configures the image of Christ, who nourishes us with his flesh and blood.

"From the Eucharist, the pastor draws vigor to exercise that particular pastoral charity which consists in dispensing the food of truth to the Christian people.

"And this text that is being prepared will be one of those interventions to nourish the people of God with the food of truth, to help them grow in the truth and above all to make the mystery of the Eucharist known and to invite [them] to an intense Eucharistic life."

The Holy Father continued: "At a time characterized by the growing phenomenon of globalization, it is increasingly necessary to have the truth of Christ and of his Gospel of salvation reach all with vigor and clarity.

"The areas where the truth must be proclaimed and witnessed with love are innumerable; many people are thirsty and we cannot leave them languishing in search of food."