(-ONLY VIDEO-)The Pope resumed his weekly catechesis on the family. He talked the troubles an absent father can generate in his children and family. He also announced that next week he will talk about the beauty of fatherhood.
SUMMARY OF THE POPE'S CATECHESIS
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
In our continuing catechesis on the family, we now turn to the dignity and role of fathers. Jesus, by teaching us to call God our Father, gave new depth and richness to this relationship, so fundamental to the life of society. Sadly, in our modern societies, we are experiencing a crisis of fatherhood; from an image of the father as authoritarian and at times even repressive, we now sense uncertainty and confusion about the role of the father.
Today we can speak of an 'absenceâ? of the father figure in society. Yet responsible fathers are so necessary as examples and guides for our children in wisdom and virtue.
Without father figures, young people often feel 'orphanedâ?, left adrift at a critical moment in their growth and development. Society itself has a similar responsibility not to leave the young as orphans, without ideals, sound values, hopes and possibilities for work and for authentic spiritual fulfilment. Jesus promised that he would not leave us orphans (cf. Jn 14:18).
Let us ask him to deepen and renew our appreciation of fatherhood and to raise up good fathers for the benefit of our families, our Church and our world.
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in todayâ??s Audience, including the various student groups from England and the United States of America. Upon you and your families I cordially invoke grace and peace in the Lord Jesus. God bless you all!
JRB/PM
CTV
VM
-BN
Up:PM
#Papa
