The Archdiocese of Sydney (Australia) has officially begun preparations for the 2028 International Eucharistic Congress, an event that will feature the presence of Pope Leo XIV, as confirmed by Archbishop Anthony Fisher following a recent meeting in Rome.
The Congress, to be held in 2028, has a particularly symbolic character, as it coincides with the centenary of the first International Eucharistic Congress held in Sydney in 1928, and it will be one of the largest ecclesial gatherings in Oceania in decades.
Meeting in Rome and papal confirmation
As Msgr. Fisher explained to Rome Report, during his stay in Rome he was able to meet personally with Pope Leo XIV, to whom he reiterated the official invitation to attend the Congress. The Pontiff, according to the archbishop’s account, responded clearly and directly: “There is still some time left, but I will be there”.
The prelate emphasized that the Pope’s confirmation provides strong support for the event and a stimulus for the local Church, which sees the Congress as a providential opportunity to reinforce the centrality of the Eucharist in Christian life and to offer a public witness of faith in a deeply secularized society.
A living memory: WYD with Benedict XVI
In his interview, Fisher evoked the lasting impact of World Youth Day 2008, presided over by Benedict XVI, as an immediate reference to the reach that a major ecclesial event can have in Australia.
The archbishop expressed his hope that the Eucharistic Congress will produce a similar effect, not only for Sydney but for all of Australia and the Oceania region, recalling that that papal visit marked a turning point in pastoral and spiritual terms for the local Church.
Signs of renewal in the Australian Church
Fisher highlighted the sustained growth in sacramental life, especially among young people and adults. The archbishop noted that, last Easter, 380 adults were baptized in his archdiocese, representing a 30% increase compared to the previous year.
In addition, he emphasized that for six consecutive years records have been broken in the number of young adults requesting to be received into the Church, a phenomenon he considers part of a broader awakening that is beginning to be perceived in other Western countries as well.
Visible faith and massive participation
Fisher also highlighted, as a tangible sign of this rebirth, the Corpus Christi procession held in Sydney, which brought together about 20,000 people last year, many of them young. This is complemented by youth festivals, evangelization encounters, and public events that show—according to the archbishop—a faith lived without complexes and with growing presence in the public space.
Evangelization and new technologies
In the context of this preparation, the Archdiocese of Sydney will launch an innovative evangelization project in May. A virtual and immersive experience of the Sistine Chapel, designed to present the History of Salvation through its frescoes and to awaken interest in the 2028 Eucharistic Congress.
The project will premiere in Sydney and will later travel to the Diocese of Dallas, in the United States, with the expectation of attracting thousands of visitors and serving as a catechetical and missionary tool.
A key event for the universal Church
The 2028 International Eucharistic Congress is thus shaping up not only as a major liturgical event, but as a long-term pastoral commitment aimed at renewing faith, catechesis on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and strengthening sacramental life.