Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Benedict XVI has said the New Evangelisation is ‘inseparable’ from Catholic family life. The Holy Father was speaking today as he received participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Family, led by council president  Cardinal Ennio Antonelli.

This year’s plenary coincides with the 30th anniversary of John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris consortio and his creation of the pontifical council itself.

In his remarks today Pope Benedict noted that ‘in our time, as in the past, the eclipse of God, the spread of an anti-family ideology and the abasement of sexual morality appear interconnected.’ This is why ‘the New Evangelisation is inseparable from the Christian family,’ the Pope said. The family is the Church’s ‘path,’ because it is a ‘human place’ in which we encounter Christ, ‘like the Church, the family is called to live, irradiate and express to the world the love and presence of Christ.’

Accepting and transmitting divine love, the Holy Father explained, ‘comes about in the spouses’ dedication to one another, in generous and responsible procreation, in raising and educating children, in work and social relations, in care for the needy, participation in Church activity and commitment to civil society.’

The Pope recalled his recent visit to Ancona to close the Italian National Eucharistic Congress where he had met priests and married couples together.

“Both these states of life have the same roots in Christ’s love whereby He gave Himself for the salvation of humanity; they are called to a shared mission of bearing witness to this love,” the Pope said. “The family is the best place to impart human and Christian education, and thus remains the greatest ally of priestly ministry.”

Finally, referring to the forthcoming seventh World Meeting of Families, due to be held in Milan, Italy, in June 2012, the Pope said it would be ‘It will be a great joy for me and for us all to come together, pray and rejoice with families from all over the world.”

Pic: Pope Benedict XVI walks past an image of St John Vianney as he arrives for his general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican yesterday.

—ian@sconews.co.uk