Sulpician Cardinal Marc OUELLET, p.s.s. traveled to Dublin, Ireland this month to represent the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI at the 50th International Eucharistic Congress, taking place in Dublin from June 10 to 17, 2012.

Cardinal Ouellet is currently Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Council for Latin America. Cardinal Ouellet is familiar with International Eucharistic Congresses, having hosted one in 2008 when he was Archbishop of Quebec. Accompanying him on journey to Dublin was Father Gearoid DULLEA, Executive Secretary of the Irish Episcopal Conference, Msgr. Cirian O’CARROLL, Rector the Pontifical Irish College in Rome, and Msgr. Samuele SANGALLI, and official in the Congregation for Bishops.

Cardinal Ouellet’s official appointment as Papal Legate was announced formally in a letter written in Latin and dated May 14, 2012. Eucharistic Congresses began under Pope Leo XIII in 1881 and were designed to promote devotion to and appreciation of the Holy Eucharist.

Dublin last hosted the International Eucharistic Congress in 1932 at a time when Ireland was still in its infancy as an independent state.