Pope Francis received this warm welcome this morning from Catholics both big and small as he met with the European Federation of the Association of Catholic Relatives in the Apostolic Palace. They have come to Rome to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their Federation.
The pope spoke to them about the importance of the family and the beauty of mutual love. However, he also said that amidst beauty there is a crisis.
POPE FRANCIS
'Crises of different types are presently springing up in Europe, not least in the institution of the family. But crises are incentives to work harder and better, with trust and hope. Four crises in particular affect Europe at the present time: demographics â?? the 'demographic winter' â??, migration, employment and education.â?
Pope Francis told them that positive solutions could be found if people involved in social, economic and political areas united to create policies that benefited families.
POPE FRANCIS
'Your service to the sacredness of life becomes concrete in the covenant between generations and in service to all, that views each young person as a subject worthy of all the familyâ??s love, in defending the right to life of the unborn who have no voice, and in ensuring dignified living conditions for the elderly.â?
He closed the meeting by blessing all families and praying for the intercession of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
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