Previous Article
Next Article
Pope Francis will set aside a special place for prayer and spiritual and human closeness with
victims of abuses, during his trip to Dublin on 25 and 26 August, for the event dedicated to the joy, life and future of the Church. The announcement was made on Tuesday, 21 August by the Director of the Holy See”s Press office, Greg Burke. During his presentation to journalists, in which he released details of the
Pope”s trip, he said that the Holy Father will pause In silence in the chapel of Saint Mary”s Pro Cathedral, where for years, a lamp has been kept alight in memory of those who suffered from all forms of abuse. The Pope, Burke said, will have the opportunity to meet some of the people who suffered from
this crime, which sadly marked the life of the Irish dioceses.
The press conference took place a few hours before the solemn start of the 2018 World
Meeting of Families, which will begin this evening with an ecumenical prayer which will be celebrated simultaneously in all of Ireland”s 26 Dioceses. The meeting will culminate on Sunday, 26 August with a final Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Dublin”s Phoenix Park. On Tuesday evening, bells will ring in unison throughout the emerald Island, not only in cathedrals but also in every parish.
Organizers have called on all Churches to join this first event that has as its theme, the invitation to be “Together with Christ”.
Amoris Laetitia will be the focus of the next few days of the meeting which will include moments of encounter, sharing, prayer and
reflection. The Apostolic Exhortation will be the key to deepen the three day congress. As wished by Pope Francis, the theme of the meeting is: “The Gospel of the Family, joy for the world”.
The Pontiff will join the thousands of families coming from all the continents on Saturday, 25 August when he will begin his visit to Ireland. On Tuesday, he highlighted his
spiritual participation in the event with a tweet from his @Pontifex account: “Today, the World Meeting of Families begins in Dublin. Let us join in prayer with all the families of the world, especially those in difficulty.” @wmof2018@LaityFamilyLife”.
