Father José Guillermo Gutiérrez
Pontifical Council for the Family
In Mexico we're very happy that the Holy Father has had this distinction for our country to allow us to accommodate the families that come from around the world to meet and reflect on their beautiful vocation and mission.

It's a meeting held every 3 years where laity, priests, experts and members of various delegations reflect on a topic related to the evangelization of the family. The theme Benedict XVI chose for this year is "The family, teacher of human and Christian values."

Fr. José Guillermo Gutiérrez
Pontifical Council for the Family
It is an important time to reflect and to motivate families to fully assume the task of educating their members, because not only parents educate their children, children also educate their parents, siblings educate each other, the family is a community that educates its members on Christian values through its daily life and the web of relationships that develops with neighbors, co-workers and school.

The meeting will consist of three parts: a Theological-Pastoral Congress, the testimony of families from different countries and a mass in the Basilica of Guadalupe.

Father Gutierrez said that although Benedict XVI will not attend the meeting, he will be very close to the participants. The Pope will send a videotaped message and will participate via satellite.

Fr. José Guillermo Gutiérrez
Pontifical Council for the Family
The Holy Father will participate via satellite and will send a message to the participants. He will also announce where the next world meeting of the families will be held.

Participants include 53 official delegations from 5 continents. According to Father Gutierrez about 6,000 to 10,000 people will attend the Theological-Pastoral Congress and about 200,000 will be at the final celebration.