Archbishop of Yangon presides over opening mass at 51st IEC

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo arrives at the Cebu Cathedral Sunday morning (Jan. 24, 2016). He was welcomed among others by Cardinals Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila and Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato. PHOTO BY SAMMY NAVAJA

CEBU CITY — Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the 66-year-old Archbishop of Yangon in Myanmar, is in Cebu to take part in the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).

Bo arrived at the Mactan Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City around 8:15 a.m. on Sunday in time for the formal opening of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).

He immediately proceeded to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral for a welcome ceremony.

Among those who welcomed him were Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, and Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

As of this posting, Cardinal Bo, whom Pope Francis had tapped to represent him in the IEC,  has been presiding over the opening Mass at the Plaza Independencia, a popular park filled with old acacia trees and ornamental plants, in downtown Cebu City, on Sunday.

At least 1,500 priests, 200 bishops, and 10 cardinals have been concelebrating the Mass, which has drawn thousands of Catholics including the 12,000 delegates to the IEC.

Roads leading to Plaza Independencia have been closed starting  2 p.m.

The IEC, which is held every four years, aims to promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church.

The weeklong congress will end on Jan. 31.  SFM