August 12, 2013 - Pope Francis is encouraging Brazilian parents to be God’s first
collaborators by giving the fundamental orientation to the life of their children,
guaranteeing them a bright future. For this it is very “important that within their
families parents encourage shared expressions of faith which can help children gradually
mature in their own faith,” the Pope said in a message for Brazil’s national family
week, August 11-17, which has as its theme, “Transmission and education of Christian
faith in the family.” The Pope urged parents to pass on to their children, in words
as much as by example, the fundamental truths of life, which acquire a new light from
God’s revelation. Particularly in today’s culture of waste, that relativizes the
value of human life, parents are called to make their children realize that life has
to be defended always, even in the mother’s womb, recognizing it as God’s gift and
the guarantee of mankind’s future. The Holy Father also urged for caring for the
elderly, especially grandparents, who are a vivid reminder of a people and who hand
down the wisdom of life.