Vatican official says Catholic families should lead by example

(September 19, 2008) The new head of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Family says that his first priority is to help faithful Catholic couples and their children proclaim the church's teaching on marriage and family life throuhg their example. "The first priority is to build up Christian families," said Italian Cardinal Ennio Antonelli. The cardinal who was appointed in June met reporters on Thursday, partly to introduce himself as the new council president and partly to present plans for the Jan. 14-18 theological and pastoral congress on family life and the World Meeting of Families in Mexico City. "We must care for normal families first so that they become a sign for others," he said. "Without examples, how can we persuade others?"he asked.
While the council expects about 15,000 people from all over the world to participate in the Jan. 14-16 congress and anywhere from 600,000 to 1 million to join in the Jan. 17-18 celebration and Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Cardinal Antonelli said Pope Benedict XVI would not travel to Mexico City for the event. "The pope is healthy," he said, "but he is not a young man and he was advised by his physicians not to travel to Mexico City because of the altitude," which is more than 2200 meters above sea level.