The city of Rome is quickly making up for lost time after the COVID pandemic. From June 22 to 26, the World Meeting of Families will be held after being canceled in 2021 due to the coronavirus. In preparation for the meeting, the organizers have released the program.
GABRIELLA GAMBINO
Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life
There won't be any academically structured conferences about doctrinal theology. It will be a moment of encounter, listening and debate between family members and people involved in marriage ministry.
Two of the goals of the meeting are to boost family participation in the Church and to celebrate marriage as a first class vocation, one that is just as important as the priesthood or consecrated life.
There will be 62 speakers from 17 different countries and the majority will be married couples. Only three will be priests.
Among the various themes, there will be a special emphasis on the missionary role of the family, the role of the elderly, interreligious dialogue and accompaniment to couples of interfaith marriages.
The meeting will also reflect on the topic of forgiveness as the foundation of family relationships and the path to sanctity.
There will also be a solidarity fund to cover the cost of families traveling to Rome from countries with limited resources.
The event organizers have set up a website— www.romefamily2022.com—where people can follow the event and download material.
TR: KG