Spanish families rally in Madrid

Following the Angelus prayer Sunday Pope Benedict had a special greeting for a gathering of families in Spain. Tens of thousands of families attended the rally organised by the Spanish Bishops Conference in the capital Madrid, Sunday under the theme “Christian family, hope of Europe”.

The event began with the celebration of Mass in Colón square presided over by Archbishop Antonio Rouco Varela, who said “without traditional marriage between man and woman the future of the humankind would be danger”.

The Archbishop of Madrid, who is also President of the Bishop’s Conference, urged families to continue to promote love, loyalty and life. In recent years the Spanish government has legalised same-sex unions and relaxed abortion laws.

Pope Benedict XVI sent a special greeting to the gathering. He invited those present “to be strong in love and to contemplate the mystery of Christmas with humility, which continues to speak to the heart and becomes the school of family and brotherhood”.

“The maternal gaze of the Virgin Mary”, continued the Pope, “the loving protection of St. Joseph and the gentle presence of the Infant Jesus are a clear image of what every Christian family must be, a true sanctuary of loyalty, respect and understanding, which also transmits faith , strengthens hope and renews charity. I encourage everyone to live the Christian vocation within the home with renewed enthusiasm, as authentic servants of love who welcome, accompany and defend life”.

The Holy Father concluded his message by calling on families to “make your home a true seedbed of virtue and a peaceful and bright space of trust, in which, guided by God's grace, we can wisely discern the Lord’s call, which continues to inspire people to follow him. With these sentiments I fervently commend the purposes and results of this meeting to the Holy Family of Nazareth, so that there are an increasing number of families in which joy, sharing and generosity reigns”. Listen to full report: