Mission marriage, Pope revisits Croatia

The promotion of the family and marital fidelity, central to Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Croatia last weekend, was also at the heart of the Pope’s general audience Wednesday.

Taking a break from his series of lessons on the school of Christian prayer, the Holy Father spoke to 30 thousand people who packed St Peter’s Square, about the recent trip, which “celebrated the First National Day of Croatian Catholic Families with a joyful Mass in the Zagreb Hippodrome”

“The motto of the Visit – Together in Christ – highlighted the special mission of the family in bearing witness to Christ. Croatia’s culture has been deeply shaped by the Catholic faith; thus, together with other European nations it has a particular responsibility to promote the fundamental role of the family in education and social life”.

Pope Benedict XVI also spoke of the mission of the family in the transmission of the faith. In comments in Italian, he said; "It was very important for me to confirm especially families in the faith, termed “domestic churches" by the Second Vatican Council”. "In our day, unfortunately we note a growing number of separations and divorces, the fidelity of the spouses has become in itself a significant sign of the love of Christ, which allows people to experience marriage for what it is, namely 'union of a man and a woman who, by the grace of Christ, love and help each other for all of their lives, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health. "

"The first religious education consists in the witness of this fidelity to the marriage covenant: from it children learn without need for words that God is love, loyal, patient, respectful and generous. Faith in the God who is love is transmitted primarily through the testimony of a faithful conjugal love, which naturally translates into love for children, the fruit of this union. But this loyalty is not possible without the grace of God, without the support of faith and the Holy Spirit. That's why the Virgin Mary does not cease to intercede with her Son so that, like the wedding at Cana, he continually renew the gift of 'good wine' to the spouses, that is, his grace, which allows them to live in 'one flesh' in the various ages and life situations. "

“During the evening Vigil in Jelačić Square, I invited young Croatians to seek Christ as the fulfilment of their quest for love and true freedom. At Sunday Vespers in Zagreb Cathedral I spoke words of encouragement to my brother bishops and priests, and to the many young seminarians and religious. Finally, in my address to the world of culture I spoke of the importance of renewing that humanism rooted in Christianity which can contribute much to the growth of a sound democratic system based on universal ethical values. With deep gratitude to all who assisted in my Visit, I commend the nation and its families to the prayers of Mary, Queen of Croatia”. Listen: