Archbishop Broglio on Church, family, charity

(Vatican Radio) The head of the US Archdiocese for the Military Services, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, was in Rome this week leading a group of military chaplains in days of prayer, reflection and formation. Vatican Radio spoke with Archbishop Broglio about a range of issues when we caught up with him on the sidelines of the weekly General Audience. He explained that the pastoral care of families, which will be a focal point of bishops’ deliberations at the upcoming Synod Assembly, is also a major focus of the Military Archdiocese, which cares not only for service members, but for their spouses and dependents, as well. Listen:

“Certainly the family is a very important area for the work of the Archdiocese for military services,” he said, adding, “it is also the area that has been most affected by the recent wars in which the United States has been involved.” Archbishop Broglio also spoke of the powerful effect Pope Francis’ Audience reflections on certain Marian images of the Church. “The Holy Father was very impressive,” he said, explaining that he was very much moved by Pope Francis’ discussion of the Visitation. “He used it as an image for the Church,” he said, adding, “it is a good image for us to keep and conserve in our hearts.”

The concrete concern of the US Church for the poor, suffering and disadvantaged at home and around the world was another focus of our conversation with Archbishop Broglio, who said that the recently arrived Ambassador to the Holy See from the United States, Kenneth Hackett, who headed Catholic Relief Services for many years, is an exemplar of the US Church’s commitment to works of charity. “In a certain sense,” he explained, “[Ambassador Hackett] incarnates the image of our charity on an international level.”

Finally, we returned to the family, and the upcoming World Meeting of Families, to be hosted by the US city of Philadelphia in 2015. “I am sure that the United States and her bishops will do everything possible to make certain that the welcome is worthy of the importance of the event.” The last World Meeting of Families was held in Milan, Italy, in 2012. As many as 350 thousand people took part in three days of events. On the closing day, more than 1 million people gathered to take part in Mass offered by Pope Benedict XVI.