Book containing Pope's speeches on the theme of the family presented
(Vatican Radio) The Pontifical Council for the Family today unveiled a book containing
35 addresses made by Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio/Pope Francis on the theme of the family
and life, dating from 1999 to 2013. The book, which is being published in the coming
days in both Italian and Spanish, was formally presented at a press conference in
the Vatican on Thursday.
The Council for the Family edited the book and its
publication comes as the Council prepares to hold its plenary assembly in Rome from
October 23-25th . This will be followed by a two-day pilgrimage by thousands
of families to St. Peter’s tomb as part of the initiatives marking the ongoing Year
of Faith.
In an address at the press conference, the President of the Council
for the Family, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, noted that Pope Francis has announced
an Extraordinary Synod of Bishops to be held during October 2014 whose chosen theme
deals with the pastoral challenges of the family. The archbishop noted that in many
of his speeches the Pope has expressed concern about the fragile and poorly-protected
state of the family in contemporary society. He said modern trends have tended to
weaken more and more the family community and there is an urgent need for the family
to return to the centre stage of our society.