Pope
presides at Philadelphia's celebration of family life
(Vatican
Radio) Pope Francis participated in a great gathering of families on Saturday
evening in Philadelphia, host city of the World Meeting of Families, for a
vigil of prayer and a celebration of the family. Chris Altieri reports from
Philadelphia..
Hosted
by actor Mark Wahlberg, and with a rundown that numbered several A-list
personalities and legendary performers including vocalist Aretha Franklin and
tenor Andrea Bocelli, the event was punctuated by the testimony of six couples
representing various ages and conditions of family life:
An
engaged couple from Australia, Camillus O’Kane and Kelly Walsh, whose faith
gives them inspiration, courage and direction as they prepare for married life
in a cultural context that is not always friendly to the idea of lifelong,
selfless commitment.
A
Ukrainian immigrant woman and her two sons, one of whom has special needs, and
who have struggled to make a life for themselves here in the United States, and
whose faith sustains them in their trials.
Nidal
Mousa and Nida Joseph, a Christian family from Jordan with their two daughters,
Faten and Dema, who minister to people in serious poverty, religious
persecution, immigration, and war.
Ifeyinwa
and Chidi, a couple from Nigeria with four children, whao are about to celebrate
24 years of marriage and who shared their experience of injury, healing and
forgiveness.
Leona
and Rudy Gonzales from New York, grandparents and great-grandparents of 12, who
offered their witness to the indispensable role of extended family in family life.
Mario
and Rosa from Argentina: married 60 years, they spoke of the need for families
to reust in God’s providence.
In
his own remarks to the participants, Pope Francis put aside his prepared
speech, and spoke of the family as God’s great gift, and the most beautiful
part of God’s creation. The family is the channel and reflection of God’s own
beauty, truth, and goodness. “The family,” founded on the marital love of a man
and a woman that alone can generate and nurture life according to God’s own
plan, “is like a factory of hope.”
Though
there are no perfect families, and though in every family there are tensions,
difficulties, conflicts, challenges, there is in the family also the abiding
love by which all these can be overcome. “Families have their difficulties, in
families we quarrel,” he said. “Sometimes plates can fly and children bring
headaches and I won’t speak about mothers-in-law! But in the family there is
always light because the love of God, the Son of God opened also that door of
love. But just as there are problems in families we must remember there is the
light of the Resurrection.”
“Only
love is able to overcome,” said Pope Francis, who went on to discuss also the
intergenerational nature of the family, calling all present to remember and to
care for children and elderly family members. “Children, younger and older are
the future, the strength that moves us forward. Grandparents are the living
memory of the family, they passed on the faith to us – to look after
grandparents and children is the expression of love.”
The
stakes are high – indeed they could be no higher. “A People that is not able to
look after their children and grandparents is a people that has no future,
because it doesn’t have strength or the memory to go forward.”
“God
bless you and give you hope,” concluded Pope Francis. “God give you the
strength to go forward: lets protect the family – and please pray for
me.”
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét