2015 in Philadelphia the VIII World Meeting of Families

“Dear brothers and sisters! I can't find words to thank for this God's feast! And for this VII world meeting of the families. With Jesus Eucharist in our hearts, we thank God who gave this great ecclesial experience”.

In this way Benedetto XVI greeted all the believers who came to Bresso airport to assist at the Holy Mass.  One million people arrived from all over the world, whom the Holy Father turned to, before the Angelus in seven different languages: Italian, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Polish. The believers from different nationalities replied the greetings with long and joyful applause.  The Pope thanked also everyone had worked for the Seventh World Meeting of the families, starting from the Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, president of the Papal Council for the family, to Angelo Scola, Archbishop of Milan, as well as the volunteers and everyone involved into the organization of the event.

“Dear families in Milan, in Lombardy and in the whole world! - then he said in Italian – I greet you with love and I thank you for your participation. I encourage you to be always in solidarity with the families living in difficulties, I am thinking about the economic and social crisis or the recent earthquake in Emilia. Virgin Mary will be with you and always support you.”

The speech of the Pope, different in every language, in one topic was the same for everyone: Next world meeting of families - said the holy Father- takes place in 2015 in Philadelfia, USA”. 

Moreover, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, president of the Papal Council thanked the family: “This event will remain in our memory and will continue to give us inspiration, hope and courage. Thanks to everybody who participated, especially those who came from far away: you brought your faith, your brotherhood and friendship, your enthusiasm”.

“Our gratitude – Cardinal Antonelli continued – is especially for you, Holy Father, that with your presence made us concretely and intensively experience the joy of being Church: the big family of God, one and universal, where men of all nations are together as brothers”.  The Holy Mass ended with the prayer of Angelus Domini. Then, the Holy Father gave his Blessing and at the end he left them.

At the end of the Holy Mass, Mons. Erminio De Scalzi, president of Fondazione Milano Famiglie 2012, announced that 500 thousand euro, received from the Pope as offerings during his visit to Milan, shall be given in favour to the populations victims of the earthquake, delivering them to the Bishops of Mantua, Modena, Ferrara, Carpi and Bologna.

The pilgrims have flowed towards the exit of the air field; they were tired but happy. As Ruben Tornero Bello, 48, taxi driver, who came from Mexico with his daughter Edurne, 12, his son Ruben, 18 and his wife Rachel, 42: “Pope is the Vicar of Christ, it was great to attend the Holy Mass – he said - they were beautiful days, volunteers were wonderful – he added – we were also in Piazza Duomo with my family and we were excited and tomorrow we leave to continue our pilgrim. We will go to the Holy Land, in Jerusalem and we are returning to Mexico June 13th ”.

Erika and Mukuambi, 35 and 44, wearing a traditional white  robe embroidered with blacks, leave to come back to Angola today: we arrived in Milan June 28th – they said- this is the first time that we have seen the Pope and we are happy.  We hope that the Holy Father intercedes for us because in our life and in our country peace and tranquillity will last forever. ”.

Xleber, 36 and Eliana, 32, came directly from Brazil June 1rst  and last night they slept in the air field with a  sleeping bag together with their group. Brazilian hat and flag in hand: “We saw the Holy Father in Canada, in Germany and now here; this experience in Milan was exciting, we knew a lot of families; and this Holy Mass deeply moved.”

The Pope left to the Archbishopric on his Popemobile, accompanied by a cheering crowd of pilgrims along the way.

Click here for the Pope’s speech at the Angelus

Click here for the text of Cardinal Antonelli’s words of thanks