International Eucharistic
Congresses: 1968 to 1985

41st International Eucharistic Congress Philadelphia, PA, USA Scott 593 (1976) The five International Eucharistic Congresses held from 1968 through 1985 touched five different continents: South America (39th Congress, 1968, in Bogota, Columbia) Australia/Oceania (40th Congress, 1973, in Melbourne) North America (41st Congress, 1976, in Philadelphia) Europe (42nd Congress, in 1981, in Lourdes, France) Africa (43rd Congress, in 1985, in Nairobi, Kenya) 39th International Eucharistic Congress: Bogota, Columbia (1968) 39th International Eucharistic Congress Bogota, Columbia Scott 461-463 (1968) The 39th International Eucharistic Congress, held from August 18 to 25, 1968, was held in Bogota, Colombia, the site being personally chosen by Pope Paul VI. This was the third Congress held in South America, following Buenos Aires, Argentina (in 1934) and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (in 1955). 40th International Eucharistic Congress: Melbourne, Australia (1973) 40th International Eucharistic Congress Melbourne, Australia Scott 531-533 (1973) The 40th Congress was convened in Melbourne, Australia, and took place from February 18–25, 1973. The pope did not attend this Congress, which had a theme of "Love one another as I have loved you.” 41st International Eucharistic Congress: Philadelphia, PA, USA (1976) 41st International Eucharistic Congress Philadelphia, PA, USA Scott 592-594 (1976) The United States hosted the 41st International Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia from August 1–8, 1976. The Congress coincided with the Bicentennial celebration in the United States. Among the prominent attendees at this Congress were Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day, President Gerald Ford, and Cardinal Karol Józef Wojtyła, the future Pope John Paul II. 42nd International Eucharistic Congress: Lourdes, France (1981) 42nd International Eucharistic Congress Lourdes, France Scott 687-690 (1981) The 42nd International Eucharistic Congress returned to Lourdes, France, which had twice previously hosted the Congress (in 1899 and 1914). Held from July 16–23, 1981, the theme for the Congress was: "Jesus Christ, bread broken for a new world." Pope John Paul II did not attend this Congress, having recently survived an assassination attempt in May of 1981. 43rd International Eucharistic Congress: Nairobi, Kenya (1985) 43rd International Eucharistic Congress Nairobi, Kenya Scott 761-764 (1985) The first Congress held on the continent of Africa, the 43rd International Eucharistic Congress ran from August 11-18, 1985, in Naiborbi, Kenya. Its theme was “The Eucharist and the Christian Family” and was attended by Pope John Paul II. REFERENCES: Wikipedia, Eucharistic Congress Vatican Philatelic Society website, www.vaticanstamps.org, Stamp Database Search