DEFEND, PROMOTE FAMILY AS A FUNDAMENTAL GOOD OF SOCIETY

VATICAN CITY, DEC 28, 2003 (VIS) - Today, Feast of the Holy Family, before thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus, the Pope said that 'all families learn to be a center of love, unity and openness to life in the school of Nazareth.'

'In our times,' he affirmed, 'a misunderstood sense of our rights sometimes obscures the nature of the institution of the family and the conjugal bond. It is necessary for all those who believe in the importance of the family based on marriage to unite at all levels. It is a human and divine reality that should be defended and promoted as a fundamental good of society.'

John Paul II indicated that Christians, according to Vatican Council II, 'attentive to the signs of the times, must do everything possible 'to promote diligently the good of marriage and the family.' ' It is necessary to proclaim the Gospel of the family with joy and courage. Let us raise our common prayer for this to Jesus, Mary and Joseph for all families, in particular for those who have material or spiritual difficulties.'

Before concluding, the Pope asked for prayers for the victims of the earthquake in Iran and invited 'international organizations, and especially Catholic charitable institutions to generously help our Iranian brothers and sisters who have been affected by this serious catastrophe. May the solidarity of the entire world, especially felt during the Christmas season, help to improve this dramatic situation.'

ANG;HOLY FAMILY;...;@ ;VIS;20031229;Word: 260;