This homily was given by Pope Benedict XVI transmitted by satellite from the Vatican to thousands of faithful gathered on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec, for the closing Mass of the 49th International Eucharistic Congress, held in that Canadian city from June 15 to 22, 2008.
Commenting on the theme of the congress – “The Eucharist: gift of God for the life of the world” – the Holy Father said: “The Eucharist is our most precious treasure. … It is the Sacrament par excellence … It contains all the mystery of our salvation, it is the source and the summit of the activity and the life of the Church”.