(-VIDEO ONLY-) In light of the Synod of Bishops on the Family, which is currently taking place in the Vatican, Pope Francis reiterated the importance of the family unit both for the Church and for society.
In the family, the Pope said, one learns respect, loyalty and sincerity. He also lamented that government and economic models have failed to incorporate family values. This too, he said, calls the Church to question to what extent She is living as the family of God.
SUMMARY OF POPE'S CATECHESIS
During the Synod of Bishops, I would like to reflect on some aspects of the profound relationship between the Church and the family, with a view to the common good of society. When families journey along the way of the Lord, they offer a fundamental witness to Godâ??s love, and they deserve the full commitment and support of the Church.
In the family we learn of the bonds which unite us, of fidelity, sincerity, trust, cooperation and respect, even when difficulties abound. Indeed it is in family life that the most vulnerable of society are cared for. And yet, political and economic life today does not always support the family, and seems to have lost the ability to incorporate the virtues of family life into the common life of society. Here the Church is called to exercise her mission by first examining to what extent she is living as the family of God. Like Saint Peter, the Church is called to be a fisher of men, and so too needs a new type of net.
Families are this net. They free us from the sea of loneliness and indifference, so that we can all experience the freedom of being children of God. May the Church go out into the deep, confident that the catch will be great. And may the Synod Fathers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, encourage the Church to cast out her net with confidence and faith in the Word of God.
Speaker: I offer an affectionate greeting to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at todayâ??s Audience, including those from England, Scotland, Ireland, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, the Netherlands, Norway, Nigeria, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Canada and the United States. I ask you to continue to pray for the Synod on the Family, and to recommit your families to Christ. May you always be witnesses to his mercy and love in the world. God bless you all!
KLH
CTV
VM
-PR
Up:JRB
#Popefrancis
