We pray for Christian families around the world; may they embody and experience unconditional love and advance in holiness in their daily lives.

Pope Francis – June 2022

The family is the place where we learn to live with one another, to live with young people and with those who are older.
And by being united —young people, the elderly, adults, children—, by being united in our differences, we evangelize with our example of life.
Of course, there is no such thing as a perfect family. There are always “buts.”
But that doesn’t matter. We shouldn’t be afraid of mistakes; we have to learn from them so we can move forward.
Let’s not forget that God is with us: in our family, in our neighborhood, in the city where we live, He is with us.
And He takes care of us. He remains with us at all times in the swaying of the boat tossed by the sea: when we argue, when we suffer, when we’re joyful, the Lord is there and accompanies us, helps us, and corrects us.
Family love is a personal path of holiness for each one of us.
This is why I chose it as the theme for this month’s World Meeting of Families.
Let us pray for Christian families around the world; may each and every family embody and experience unconditional love and advance in holiness in their daily lives.

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PRESS RELEASE

Pope: the family is a path towards God through daily life

Press clipping

• “Family love is a personal path of holiness,” Francis underlines in this video.
• In his message, the Pope is aware that “there is no such thing as a perfect family,” and at the same time he reminds us that “God is with us.”
• The Holy Father encourages Christian families to express their love in concrete gestures, to learn from mistakes, and to discover God’s presence at every moment.

(Vatican City, June 2, 2022) – The Pope Video for June has just been released with the prayer intention that Francis is entrusting to the entire Catholic Church through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. This month, the Holy Father prays “for Christian families around the world; may they embody and experience unconditional love and advance in holiness in their daily lives.”

The family at the center

After having dedicated the May video to young people, the three-month Pope Video series about the family continues, created by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network in collaboration with the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. In addition, this month’s prayer intention coincides with the celebration of the World Meeting of Families on June 22-26 in Rome. This event will close a year dedicated to meditating on the family on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris laetitia.

The family in crisis?

For years now it has seemed that the family is in a permanent crisis. For this reason, it’s important we take care of our own family in its concrete circumstances. In fact, the family continues to be the main source of meaning in the lives of many people. This is a conclusion of a Pew Research Center survey carried out in 2021, which asked people what gives meaning to their life; participants mentioned their family first, ahead of their professional career, material well-being, or health.

The family as a path of holiness

“Of course, there is no such thing as a perfect family. But that doesn’t matter. We shouldn’t be afraid of mistakes; we have to learn from them,” the Pope says. He reminds us that, in addition to its great human value, the family is also valuable from a faith perspective: “Family love is a personal path of holiness for each one of us.” Thus, faith offers us motives and encouragement to protect the institution of the family. “Let’s not forget that God is with us: in our family, in our neighborhood, in the city where we live, he is with us. And He takes care of us. He remains with us at all times in the swaying of the boat tossed by the sea: when we argue, when we suffer, and when we’re joyful,” Francis says.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, spoke about families that grow on the path of holiness: “Amoris laetitia reminds us that perfect families don’t exist, and we must not fear difficulties. All families have worries and sufferings, but also joys and hopes. Loving relationships between spouses, parents, children, and grandparents are what become paths of holiness, made of simple daily gestures, which take little to make ordinary moments extraordinary.”

Fr. Frédéric Fornos, S.J., International Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, commented on this intention: “Francis reminds us that the family is the place where we learn to live with differences, with those who are younger and those who are older. Encountering people who are different is a richness, not a threat. In today’s world it seems as if differences create confrontation when they should instead open new paths. The family is a place to learn to love, to live with differences, learning from mistakes, being aware that the Lord is present to help and accompany us. This experience of God’s presence is born from prayer; this is why it is important to pray for this intention of the Pope.”

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• Read the Vatican News’ article

About The Pope Video

The Pope Video is an official global initiative with the purpose of disseminating the Holy Father’s monthly prayer intentions. It is carried out by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer). Since the year 2016, The Pope Video has had more than 176 million views across all the Vatican’s social networks, and is translated into more than 23 languages, receiving press coverage in 114 countries. The videos are produced and created by the team of The Pope Video of the Prayer Network, coordinated by Andrea Sarubbi, with the support of La Machi Communication for Good Causes agency. The project is supported by Vatican Media. 

About the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network

The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network is a Vatican foundation, with the mission of mobilizing Catholics through prayer and action in response to the challenges facing humanity and the mission of the Church. These challenges are presented in the form of prayer intentions entrusted by the Pope to the entire Church. The foundation’s mission is inscribed in the dynamic of the Heart of Jesus, a mission of compassion for the world. It was founded in 1844 as the Apostleship of Prayer. It is present in 89 countries and is made up of more than 22 million Catholics. It includes a youth branch, the EYM: Eucharistic Youth Movement. In December 2020, the Pope constituted this pontifical work as a Vatican foundation and approved its new statutes. Its international director is Fr. Frédéric Fornos, SJ. For more information, visit: https://www.popesprayer.va

About the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life

The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life is responsible for the development of the apostolate of the lay faithful, for the pastoral care of young people, marriage, and the family, and for its mission according to God’s plan, for the elderly, and for the protection and support of human life. For more information: http://www.laityfamilylife.va/. For information about the “Amoris Laetitia Family Year” visit: www.amorislaetitia.va.

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Young people, Family, Listening, Amoris Laetitia, Knowing how to listen, Discernment.