Seventy nine years after the Philippines first hosted the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Manila, the 2016 IEC kicked off in Cebu on January 24, 2016, with thousands of Catholic devotees worldwide in attendance.

The IEC opened with a High Mass at the Plaza Independencia at 4 pm. The mass was celebrated by the legate from Pope Francis, His Eminence Charles Maung Cardinal Bo.

The eight-day religious congress is expected to draw 12, 000 participants from 55 countries across the globe.

The Philippines first hosted the IEC in Manila in 1937, the first time it was held in Asia.

Dubbed as “Olympics of the Soul,” this year’s theme is “Christ In You, Our Hope of Glory.”

Here is the full video of Charles Maung Cardinal Bo’s homily.

Day 2 – January 25, 2016

Day 3 – January 26, 2016

Day 4 – January 27, 2016

Day 5 – January 28, 2016

Day 6 – January 29, 2016

Day 7 – January 30, 2016

Day 8 – January 31, 2016

Closing Homily – January 31, 2016

Message of Pope Francis