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Skriven 2006-07-10 22:57:26 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

FAMILIES, AN INDISPENSABLE FOUNDATION FOR SOCIETY

VATICAN CITY, JUL 8, 2006 (VIS) - Today at 5.15 p.m., the Pope left the
archbishop's residence and went to the palace of the "Generalitat de Valencia,"
headquarters of the presidency of the Spanish region of Valencia, where he paid
a courtesy visit to King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain.

He then returned to the archbishop's palace where he met with Jose Luis
Rodriguez Zapatero, prime minister of Spain.

At 8.30 p.m., he again left the archbishop's palace and travelled by popemobile
to Valencia's City of Arts and Sciences, a modern building complex in the city
center. There he presided at a festive meeting of families, attended by
hundreds of thousands of people.

The ceremony began with a parade of participants bearing the flags of their
native countries. Thereafter Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the
Pontifical Council for the Family, addressed some words to those present.

Following testimonies from families from various countries, the Pope pronounced
his address.

He began by recalling that the family "is an intermediate institution between
individuals and society, and nothing can completely take its place. The family
is itself based primarily on a deep interpersonal relationship between husband
and wife, sustained by affection and mutual understanding. To this end, it
receives abundant help from God in the Sacrament of Matrimony, which brings
with it a true vocation to holiness.

"Would that our children," he added, "might experience more harmony and
affection between their parents rather than disagreements and discord, since
the love between father and mother is a source of great security for children
and its teaches them the beauty of a faithful and lasting love."

Benedict XVI then highlighted the fact that "the family is a necessary good for
peoples, an indispensable foundation for society and a great and lifelong
treasure for couples. It is a unique good for children, who are meant to be the
fruit of the love, of the total and generous self-giving of their parents. To
proclaim the whole truth about the family, based on marriage as a domestic
Church and a sanctuary of life, is a great responsibility incumbent upon all."

Referring to the problems facing families when isolated from relatives and
friends, the Pope indicated that the Church "has the responsibility of offering
support, encouragement and spiritual nourishment which can strengthen the
cohesiveness of the family, especially in times of trial or difficulty. Here
parishes have an important role to play, as do the various ecclesial
associations."

Going on to mention the question of the transmission of faith in the family,
the theme of this Fifth World Meeting of Families, Pope Benedict recalled that
it "is a responsibility which parents cannot overlook, neglect or completely
delegate to others. ... The language of faith is learned in homes where this
faith grows and is strengthened through prayer and Christian practice."

"This meeting provides a new impetus for proclaiming the Gospel of the family,
reaffirming the strength and identity of the family founded upon marriage and
open to the generous gift of life, where children are accompanied in their
bodily and spiritual growth. This is the best way to counter a widespread
hedonism which reduces human relations to banality and empties them of their
authentic value and beauty. To promote the values of marriage does not stand in
the way of fully experiencing the happiness that man and women encounter in
their mutual love. Christian faith and ethics are not meant to stifle love, but
to make it healthier, stronger and more truly free."

The Pope invited politicians and legislators "to reflect on the evident
benefits which homes in peace and harmony assure to individuals and the family,
the neuralgic center of society." In this context, he recalled how "the purpose
of laws is the integral good of man, in response to his needs and aspirations.
This good is a significant help for society, of which it cannot be deprived,
and a safeguard and a purification for peoples. The family is also a school
which enables men and women to grow to the full measure of their humanity. The
experience of being loved by their parents helps children to become aware of
their dignity as children.

"Children need to be brought up in the faith, to be loved and protected," he
added. "Along with their basic right to be born and to be raised in the faith,
children also have the right to a home which takes as its model the home of
Nazareth, and to be shielded from all dangers and threats."

Benedict XVI also highlighted the importance of grandparents: "They can be -
and so often are - the guarantors of the affection and tenderness which every
human being needs to give and receive. They offer little ones the perspective
of time, they are memory and richness of families. In no way should they ever
be excluded from the family circle. They are a treasure which the younger
generation should not be denied, especially when they bear witness to their
faith at the approach of death."

After the meeting, the Pope returned to the archbishop's palace where he spent
the night.
PV-SPAIN/MEETING FAMILIES/VALENCIA VIS 060710 (870)

SUMMARY

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