SW News: The Episcopal Conference of Ecuador has officially announced that Pope Francis had approved the South American country’s request to host the 2024 International Eucharistic Congress. During a press conference on October 26, Archbishop Alfredo José Espinoza Mateus of Quito in the capital stated that the 53rd International Eucharistic Congress will be held there with the theme "Fraternity to heal the world".

The event, expected to bring together hundreds of thousands of faithful, prelates, and religious, will take place from September 8 to 15. Earlier this year, in a press release announcing the papal approval, the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses stated that Ecuador was selected in honor of the 150th anniversary of the nation's consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The pontifical committee also said that this significant ecclesial meeting would show the power of the Eucharist to evangelize and revitalize faith across Latin America.

During the press conference, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Andrés Carrascosa said the Bishops' Conference invited the Holy Father, opening the possibility of a papal visit. Citing the importance of the Congress, the Bishop added, "The Eucharist is the center of the life of the Church and its actions. Therefore, the Eucharistic Congresses are ecclesial events that involve the entire Church."

The Bishops also stated that a Eucharistic Symposium would be held from September 5 to 7 at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, preceding the ecclesiastical event. The International Eucharistic Congress seeks to advance a greater understanding of the liturgy and the Eucharist in the Church's life and to bear witness to the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Regular prayers, Eucharistic adoration, Eucharistic processions, and the celebration of Mass with Catholics from all over the world occur during the Congress.

To promote Eucharistic devotion, the first International Eucharistic Congress was held in France in 1881. It's the first time the ecclesial event will be held in Ecuador. The Congress is generally held every three to four years and St Paschal Baylon is the patron of each event. More than 100,000 people participated in the previous Congress that was held in Budapest in Hungary, in 2021.