The theme, taken from Matthew 23:8, comes from the full phrase: “You have one master, and you are all brothers.” Its context is Jesus’ warning to disciples to avoid taking titles to show that one is superior. Instead, he commands them to humble themselves to serve others.
In March 2021, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had designated the Archdiocese of Quito as the host for the event. The Eucharistic Congress will take place during the year of the 150th anniversary of the consecration of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Ecuador was the first country to make this consecration.
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, sits in the foothills of the Andes at a high elevation of 9,350 feet. It is the most populous city in Ecuador with over three million inhabitants in its metropolitan area.
According to 2020 statistics, there are over 2.7 million Catholics in the Archdiocese of Quito, or 85% of the population.
Ecuador has never hosted an international Eucharistic congress. Bogotá, Colombia, which hosted a Eucharistic Congress in 1968, was the last South American location for the event.
The next congress could be another opportunity for Pope Francis to visit South America. The pontiff had already visited Quito during his July 2015 apostolic visit to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay.
