During his trip to the U.S, Pope Francis will visit the White House, Congress and the United Nations. But the one event that made it all possible is the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, organized by the Church.
MSGR. VINCENZO PAGLIA
Pontifical Council for the Family, President
'If we were to define all these aspects of the Papal trip to the US, I would say it all boils down to the Pope wanting to highlight the importance of family life and fraternity among nations, despite differences.â?
The World Meeting of Families will run from the 22nd to the 27th of September. In addition to the long list of expert speakers, the entertainment will also be top notch. Hollywood stars like Mark Wahlberg will be there and musical groups like The Fray has also confirmed its attendance.
The city of Philadelphia has a prominent role in American history and the very roots of the country. That includes the issue of immigration- which is currently a controversial issue in both the U.S and abroad.
While in Europe most immigrants are arriving from the Middle East, in the U.S most of the immigrants are from Latin America. Hispanics make up about 15 percent of the country's population.
One of the first speeches the Pope will give upon arrival on September 26th, will be to a group of immigrants.
MSGR. VINCENZO PAGLIA
Pontifical Council for the Family, President
'Through solidarity, people are called to be one family that shows fraternity among each other. So all these barriers and walls that are being built, are actions against the family and the spirit of fraternity.â?
The World Meeting of Families will conclude with a Papal Mass on Sunday September 27th, before the Pope heads back to Rome on the 28th.
The massive gathering takes place about every three years and it's organized by this very Vatican department-the Pontifical Council for the Family. Its main purpose is to celebrate the role of the family in society and of course to strengthen their faith, in the process.
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