Thousands take part in Eucharistic Procession through London

Eucharistic Procession leaves St George's

Source: Archdiocese of Southwark

Archbishop John Wilson, the Archbishop of Southwark, led thousands of Catholics through the streets of London today, in the Eucharistic Procession from St George's Cathedral to Westminster Cathedral, carrying Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

Joining Pope Leo in sending pilgrims out to walk with Christ, Archbishop John told them at the Mass in St George's Cathedral before the procession: "We have come to encounter a living Person: Jesus, crucified and risen; living and reigning; truly, really, and substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament.

"Christ gathers His Church. He calls us to hear his Word. He invites us to his altar. He gives us his Body and Blood and he will send us out to walk with Him through the streets of our city."

In his homily, the Archbishop said belief in the grace of Eucharistic conversion "will embolden us as Eucharistic evangelisers." He said: "Today, in the most Blessed Sacrament, we look upon Jesus as he radiates his love." Of the power of seeing the Eucharistic Jesus, he said: "When you see the Eucharistic Jesus, then you will be able to believe."

Southwark has seen an increase in people seeking to join the Catholic Church, with over 1,400 adults having joined in the last two years. One of them, Zach, was invited by a friend to a Corpus Christi procession. He said: "Seeing the procession, seeing the devout faith of all those people, was something else."

Pope Leo's message was read by the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia, at the beginning of the Mass at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, today, Saturday 10 October.

In his message to the Adoremus National Eucharistic Congress, Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics in England and Wales to "courageously bear witness to Jesus Christ in their daily lives". The Holy Father said: "In the Blessed Sacrament, as well as the sacramental ministry of the priest, the Lord himself travels your streets, crosses your squares and visits your neighbourhoods, making his saving presence felt in the places of daily life, because he is a God who is close to us and walks with his people."