VATICAN - "The Church will never stop saying that marriage and the family are part of God’s plan and nothing can replace them or act as a substitute for them": The Pope confirms the convocation of 5th World Meeting of Families in Spain in 2006

Vatican City (Fides Service) - Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed the convocation of the 5th World Meeting for Families promoted by the Catholic Church to be held in the first week in July 2006 in Valencia Spain with the theme “Handing on the faith in the family”. In a special Letter to Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo President of the Pontifical Council for the Family the Pope said “Like John Paul II I intend to encourage the ‘wondrous news’, the ‘Gospel of the Family’ whose value is central for the Church and for society.
The Holy Father affirmed: "
"The Church will never stop saying that marriage and the family are part of God’s plan and nothing can replace them or act as a substitute for them... today more than ever the family has the unavoidable and most noble mission to hand on the faith. Parents are the first evangelisers of children the Creator’s precious gift”. The Pope ended his letter asking God to bless all the families which will take part in the Meeting either in person or in spirit. "May our Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary who accompanied her Son to the Wedding Feast at Cana intercede for all the families of the world ". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 30/5/2005 righe 14, parole 213)