Pope calls for prayers as International Congress on Family opens in Mexico City

Sedoc: “The Family as educator in Human and Christian Values” is the theme of the World Meeting of Families that opened in Mexico City on Wednesday. It will conclude on Sunday.
Pope Benedict XVI at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, called on the vast gathering of pilgrims and the faithful, to unite themselves with him in praying for abundant graces to fall on this Sixth World Meeting of Families. “May this important ecclesial event manifest”, the Pope said, “manifest yet again the beauty and the value of the family, arousing in all new energies to work in favour of this irreplaceable fundamental cell of society and of the Church.”
According to Church sources, the number of registrations for this theological congress has passed 9,000 and is increasing, surpassing the number of participants at the last congress in Valencia, Spain. Speakers for the congress will talk on a wide range of topics, and include experts, among them Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher of the Pontifical Household; Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus; and Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga, President of Caritas.
Pope Benedict XVI expressed his support for the meeting even during last Sunday's Angelus, saying, "I myself will also follow the extraordinary event with lively participation, accompanying it with prayer and through a televised talk." Since many people cannot travel to Mexico, key elements of the event will be broadcast by radio, television and the Internet. The Pope has conceded a plenary indulgence not only to those who participate personally in this Mexico event, but also to those who participate via the communications media. The celebration of this family event and closing Mass on Sunday will be broadcast on Eurovision (Europe and Asia) Various Catholic Radio Stations will also broadcast the event.