The September 5-12 was established. the operative group overseeing the International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest on Thursday - announced the state secretary responsible for international communication and relations in Budapest, at a background meeting on Thursday.
Zoltán Kovács emphasized that the state does not interfere in any way in the programs organized by the church or in their content, the primary task of the operational staff is to guarantee the safety of those attending the event.
Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, who is also responsible for church affairs, said that the international event is special not only because the Pope also attends the closing mass, but also because - in the spirit of ecumenism - Eastern Orthodox churches, Protestants and Jewish denominations also participate. .
Zsolt Semjén called it a special honor that Pope Francis will participate in the closing mass of the Eucharistic congress. He said: the pope almost never personally participates in Eucharistic congresses, he usually sends a legate, so the visit of the head of the Catholic Church to Budapest can be considered a gesture.
The Deputy Prime Minister stated that Eastern church leaders do not usually participate in Eucharistic congresses. He pointed out that the Eucharist has a different meaning in the theology of the Christian - Catholic, Reformed and Lutheran - churches. The ecumenical event in Budapest is also considered special from this point of view, because in addition to the Orthodox, Protestants also participate, said Zsolt Semjén. He called it special that the Eastern churches are marching at the congress "in unprecedented numbers and representativeness".
Among them will be the Universal Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, who will also participate in the papal mass. There will be a separate throne for the pope and a separate throne for the patriarch, he added.
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