In a letter to the National Eucharistic Congress, Pope Francis affirmed the appointment of Cardinal Luis Tagle as his envoy to the event, and asked him to convey “Our goodwill to all participants.”

The National Eucharistic Congress, which culminates both the two-month National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and the National Eucharistic Revival that began in 2021, will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis July 17-21.

“We wish that the faithful, refreshed by the heavenly banquet, may journey into a happier time period and into spiritual flourishing,” Pope Francis wrote.

In May, Pope Francis announced that Cardinal Luis Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization’s Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, would represent him at the first national Eucharistic congress in the United States in 83 years.

The full text of the Holy Father’s letter, published on the National Eucharistic Congress website, appears below. The original letter, written in Latin, can be found here.

To Our Venerable Brother

His Eminence LUIS ANTONIO G. Cardinal TAGLE

Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization

‍We are certain that the most sacred mystery of the Body and Blood of Christ holds a distinguished place in all the Churches throughout the world; time and again, We fix Our gaze upon it, in which, hoping for a multitude of God’s mercies, we ask God daily that We may have some share with the holy Apostles and Martyrs born in heaven (cf. Roman Canon). For spiritual health and an abundance of the Lord’s benefits flow profusely from the bread of angels as from a fountain. The faithful approaching the heavenly banquet and fortified by assistance from on high are able to carry out their work in daily duties more vigorously and diligently.

Therefore, it was most gratifying for Us to hear the recent news about the National Eucharistic Congress in the United States of America, which many will attend in Indianapolis from the 17th to 21st of the ensuing month of July. Having received a request from Our Venerable Brother, His Excellency and Most Reverend Timothy Broglio, Archbishop of the Military Ordinariate and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, asking Us to send an illustrious cardinal to represent Our person, We gladly turn to you, Venerable Brother of Ours, who fulfill a distinguished service for the good of the Church as Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.

Indeed, deeming this request appropriate, We appoint you by this letter as Our Extraordinary Envoy to the solemn celebrations of the National Eucharistic Congress to be held in Indianapolis on the aforementioned days. You will encourage all participants of this event to be fully aware of all the gifts to be received from the heavenly food, and to share these with others, with hearts united with Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of our Redemption.

You will greet in Our name the Archbishop of the Military Ordinariate, the sacred prelates, all the faithful gathered there, priests, religious men and women, public authorities, and lay faithful. You will convey an exhortation for a more fervent devotion to the Eucharist and, at the same time, convey Our goodwill to all participants. Now, however, We wish that the faithful, refreshed by the heavenly banquet, may journey into a happier time period and into spiritual flourishing.

Finally, with fervent prayer, We beseech Almighty God that you may diligently fulfill the office entrusted to you, whereby the pastors and faithful there may be enriched with manifold graces from the Lord. May the Blessing, which We most willingly impart to you in the Lord, Venerable Brother of Ours, and which We wish to extend abundantly to all gathered, be in truth a conciliator and messenger of heavenly gifts.

‍Given in Rome, at the Lateran, on June 29, the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, in the year 2024, the twelfth of Our Pontificate.