In his weekly general audience, Pope Francis reflected on faithfulness between husband and wife. It's one of the pillars that build a healthy family life, he said, but it's a factor that's being threatened as people steer away from long term commitments.
POPE FRANCIS
'Currently, some factors like the search for personal satisfaction at all costs, or the non negotiable exaltation of liberty, have weakened this promise. Faithfulness is dishonored through broken promises, or when spouses take the word with leniency.â?
Being faithful to one's spouse, he added, gives life to beauty and makes the bond of marriage, all that more powerful. It's something that affects not just family life, he said, but society as a whole.
POPE FRANCIS
'Faithfulness also includes caring and educating one's children. It means caring for the elderly in our families. It means protecting and helping the most fragile members of our family. Helping one another by enhancing our strengths and accepting our weaknesses.â?
Every day, he added, millions of families build on this faithfulness even though often times, it's ignored by society.
POPE FRANCIS
'It's necessary for society to re-integrate the honor that comes with faithfulness. Knowing that the promise men and women commit to, depends on the grace and mercy of God. The bond that comes from the love or friendship is beautiful and it never destroys liberty.â?
Since Bishops taking part in the Synod had the day off today, many of them attended the Pope's general audience. Before concluding, the Pope asked all Christians for their prayer, so that the Synod of the Family may carry out its mission.
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