Vintage Chicago Tribune: 1 million Catholics converge on city for International Eucharistic Congress

Thousands of nuns form a choir for Mass for the 28th International Eucharistic Congress as Cardinal Bonzano and others celebrated in the open-air cathedral on June 22, 1926. (Chicago Tribune archive)

Papal Legate Cardinal Bonzano, center left, with Cardinal Mundelein, center right, in 1926. Bonzano was the personal representative of Pope Pius XI at the 28th International Eucharistic Congress held in Chicago in June 1926. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Police at Soldier Field help a nun over a fence to get into the the pontifical high Mass at the 28th International Eucharistic Congress in June 1926 in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune archive)

People process from Archbishop Quigley seminary to Holy Name Cathedral for the opening reception for Cardinal Bonzano and the mass that followed during the 28th International Eucharistic Congress in June 1926 in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Police officers link arms to form a human fence against the crowd during the 28th International Eucharistic Congress at Soldier Field on June 22, 1926, in Chicago. Pressure from behind urged the front ranks of the crowd forward, seeking places of vantage. It was a warm day with a lake breeze. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

The papal legate on the throne at the 28th International Eucharistic Congress at Soldier Field 1926. (Chicago Herald and Examiner)

The program booklet for the 28th International Eucharistic Congress held in Chicago in June 1926. (Chicago Tribune archive)

Cardinal Mundelein, second from left, greets Cardinal Friedrich Gustav Piffl of Vienna, for the 28th International Eucharistic Congress in Chicago in 1926. (Chicago Herald and Examiner)

A choir of approximately 60,000 children attend the Mass of the Angels on June 21, 1926, for the pontifical high Mass at Soldier Field. (World Wide Photo)

Msgr. C.J. Quille, general secretary of the congress, front row from left, Cardinal Bonzano, Cardinal Mundelein, and Bishop Edward F. Hoban, honorary president of the congress, in 1926. The group was assembled in Chicago for the 28th International Eucharistic Congress held at Soldier Field in June 1926. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

The children's choir practices singing at Cubs Park on May 27, 1926, for the upcoming 28th International Eucharistic Congress at Soldier Field in June. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

The galero, a round-brimmed hat, is held at the 28th International Eucharistic Congress at Soldier Field in June 1926. (Chicago Tribune archive)

The alter where Mass was to be said before congregations at Soldier Field for the 28th International Eucharistic Congress in Chicago. The altar was illumined on June 18, 1926. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Some of the estimated 150,000 people who crowded into Soldier Field during the 28th International Eucharistic Congress of the Catholic church in June 1926 in Chicago. Another 150,000 were turned away. (Chicago Tribune archive)

On the east and west drive at the north entrance to Soldier Field stand white pillars, linked by strings of lights for the Court of Honor on June 18, 1926. The decorations were for the upcoming 28th International Eucharistic Congress. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Cardinal Mundelein, from left, Father William R. Griffin, and C.G. Guill look over Soldier Field in preparation for the upcoming 28th International Eucharistic Congress, circa 1925. The congress was held in Chicago from June 20–24 in 1926 and was hosted by Cardinal Mundelein. The large, open-air mass was held at Soldier Field with an estimated 500,000 people attending. (Chicago Herald and Examiner)

People crowd the streets outside Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago for the 28th International Eucharistic Congress in June 1926. (Chicago Tribune archive)

A bronze medal distributed to people who attended the 28th International Eucharistic Congress in Chicago shows the head of Pope Pius XI. On the reverse side is the Latin inscription “Ubi Petrus Ibi Ecclesia,” meaning “Where Peter is, there is the church.” (Chicago Tribune archive)

The headquarters for the 28th International Eucharistic Congress at 719 Cass St., on June 3, 1926, in Chicago. All administrative affairs and housing problems for the million pilgrims were handled here. (Charles Wilk/Chicago Tribune)

A button for the 28th International Eucharistic Congress held in Chicago in 1926. (Chicago Tribune archive)

Cardinal Mundelein, second from right, dedicates St. Gregory Church at 5545 N. Paulina St. on Nov. 28, 1926, just months after he hosted the 28th International Eucharistic Congress at Soldier Field. The church was completed in June, but had to wait for its' formal dedication due to the Congress. Mundelein called the church "A Medieval jewel in a modern setting" at the time of the dedication. He is seen here walking on Gregory Street. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)