I was invited by a friend to post some info about a petition to bring His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Quebec City next year. To help her, I've tried to lay out as much information about it as possible right here.

So, what's going on in Quebec in 2008?

Quebec City will be hosting an International Eucharistic Congress from June 15 to June 22; the last one hosted by Canada was in 1910.

The year 2008 marks the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City; it's the only city north of Mexico whose fortified walls still stand to this day, and is the first non-Spanish colony that was intended to be a permanent settlement, rather than just a commercial outpost. A brief quote about the city's religious origins:

Some French pioneers with deep faith, wanting to evangelize the Amerindians and offer spiritual support for the first colonists, were joined by the Récollet missionary priests in 1615 and by the Jesuits in 1625. Along with the Ursuline Sisters and the Augustinian Nuns who arrived in 1639, they together set the foundations of the Catholic Church in New France. In 1658, Monsignor François de Laval was appointed the first Bishop of New France.

France bringing the Faith to the Hurons of New France. Artist unknown. 17th century. Ursuline Monastery of Québec.



Here's the page from the Congress's website about the history of the Catholic Church in Quebec.



Back to the Eucharistic Congress: it seems like it will be a large gathering of bishops, priests, families, youth, and other pilgrims to teach and bolster faith in the Eucharist, the Precious Body and Blood of Christ. This year's theme is: “The Eucharist, Gift of God for the Life of the World.” Each Congress has a sort of foundational theological document written under the authority of the host bishop; this one is a bit of a monster, at 68 pages, on .pdf right here.

The theme and schedule for each individual day of the Congress is outlined here. Lauds, Vespers, Mass, Eucharistic processions and adoration, penitential services, catechesis, the promoting of social services, it's all there.

The president of the Congress will be the Primate of Canada and Archbishop of Quebec, Cardinal Marc Ouellet.


And so, what does this have to do with the Pope?


The website explains:

In 1964, Paul VI began the custom of having the Pope conclude an International Eucharistic Congress with a solemn Mass. John Paul II continued that custom, although his state of health prevented him from attending a few times. Benedict XVI told Québec’s Archbishop, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, that he hoped to come. The final decision will probably be known in December 2007.

Former Quebec cabinet minister Marc Bellemare has begun an effort to bring Pope Benedict to this Congress, especially since His Holiness will be visiting America next year, anyway. Or, to quote this blog:

The Vatican has already announced the pope's travel agenda for the year 2008.

Quebec City is not on the itinerary.

That is a shame. We need the Pope in Canada.

We need the Christian message of salvation through Christ and peace through God. Our culture is immersed in despair,darkness, consumerism, idolatry-- the idolatry of sex, money, fame, success, false compassion and so forth. Jesus Christ is the answer to this emptiness and vanity.

And we need the pope's Gospel of Life. We not only need personal salvation, we need societal salvation. We need to build a Culture of Life.

Holy Father: you are the best herald for this message. Because if you come, people will pay attention.

We not only need you to preach to the faithful and the unconverted, but also to the clergy. Holy Father, the clergy in Canada do not stand up for the faith. In fact, they regularly flout it. Especially in Quebec. We need you to remind the clergy that standing up for core Catholic doctrines is not optional, but obligatory especially for the ordained. We need you to remind the clergy to preach salvation through Jesus Christ, the right to life, universal truths, and so forth.

Canada is like a dried flowerbed that needs to be watered with your message to bloom.

Readers: the Holy Father has said that he will go to those places in response to a real desire for his presence, and where his message will likely have the greateste impact.

You have the power to help bring the pope to Canada in 2008!

Former Quebec Justice Minister Marc Bellemare has launched an initiative to persuade the pope to come to Quebec City. He is partnered with Luciano Dorotea, Quebec's former representative to Rome, and the head of Séminaire St. Francois, the Capuchin friar Jean-Marc Boulay. He has launched a petition in Quebec City, and this petition is being circulated in various businesses and venues across the city, including Ameublement Tanguay, Les Restaurants Normandin and Boston Pizza. The first two may not mean anything to you, but those are very well-known businesses in the Quebec City area.

This is a big effort.

And your help is needed.

Anyway, the petition page is here. To understand the French, refer back to this page.

The pontifical high Mass at the Chicago stadium on Children’s Day, June 21, 1926