Pope to celebrate Corpus Christi feast with Mass, public procession

(June 06, 2012) The Vicar of Rome Diocese has invited the faithful to join in large numbers in the public celebration of the Eucharist on the feast of the Corpus Christi or the Body and blood of Christ on Thursday, led by Pope Benedict XVI. “I address a particular invitation, so that numerous people will participate in this ecclesial moment to thank the Lord for the inestimable gift of the Eucharist, to witness publicly our faith and the unity of the Church of Rome around its Bishop,” wrote Vicar of Rome, Cardinal Agostino Vallini to the parishes of Rome, whose bishop is the Pope. “At a time when the See of Peter is made the object of serious and unjust inferences, which disorient the people, we wish to elevate to the Lord our fervent prayer for all, that he grant us the gift of unity and peace," Cardinal Vallini wrote, in a reference to the ‘Vatileaks’ scandals involving leaking of confidential papal documents to the media, which has saddened the Holy Father. At Wednesday’s audience, Pope Benedict himself urged pilgrims and Rome faithful to join him in large numbers Thursday evening at the celebration of Holy Mass at Rome’s St. John Lateran Basilica, followed by a street procession with the Holy Eucharist from there to St. Mary Major Basilica. The Holy Father invited pilgrims and the faithful of Rome to join him in this act of profound faith towards the Eucharist, which he said is the most precious treasure of the Church and of humanity. Corpus Christi feast is celebrated in the Latin Church on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, but many dioceses mark it on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday, so people can join in the public demonstration of worship.