Pope Francis wants to bring families together -

Grzegorz Galazka / Mondadori Portf / SIPA

Pope Francis announced this Sunday a year of the family dedicated to the place of the family in the Church, the accompaniment of couples towards marriage and in the difficulties of married life.

The announcement was made on the occasion of the Angelus prayer, five years after the exhortation of the Sovereign Pontiff on love in the family, “Amoris Laetitia”.

The year will begin on St. Joseph's Day on March 19, 2021 and will end on June 26, 2022 at the 10th World Meeting of Families in Rome.

In his Sunday homily, Francis spoke at length from the library of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican “the educational value of the family nucleus (…) founded on love”.

Strengthen marriage

He called on families to prioritize “forgiveness over discord”.

“In a family, there are three words, three words that must always be cherished: please, thank you, sorry,” he said.

The Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life has published 12 proposals that parishes and dioceses will be responsible for implementing.

It is a question in particular of reinforcing "the pastoral care of the preparation for marriage", of better helping couples after their union and in the education of their children, of creating circles of reflection and of words on "the beauty and the difficulties. of family life ”, and finally to support couples in crisis and“ injured families ”.

Thoughts for the victims of the pandemic

While European countries launched their vaccination programs against the new coronavirus pandemic on Sunday, the Argentine Pope also paid tribute to healthcare workers, in particular couples and families experiencing difficulties in the context of the pandemic.

“My thoughts are with the families who in recent months have lost a spouse or have been affected by the pandemic.

I am also thinking of the doctors, nurses and all the nursing staff whose commitment on the front line against the spread of the virus has had significant repercussions on family life ”, he declared.

World

Christmas: "We need fraternity more than ever", launches the Pope to his faithful

World

Coronavirus: More than 25 million cases recorded in Europe

  • Family

  • Wedding

  • Pope

  • World