Vatican City (Fides Service) - "The world needs a sign of hope which can come precisely from Christian families", Pope John Paul II said this before reciting the Angelus prayer with the people gathered in St Peter's square at midday on Sunday 15 December. "Christmas is the greatest feast of the family, because when God chose to be born into a human family, he chose the family to be the first community consecrated by his love" said the Holy Father. Referring to the 4th World Meeting of Families in Manila in January, he added "This appointment will serve to re-launch the Gospel of the family in the third millennium". In St Peter's Square there were thousands of children who had brought the "baby Jesus" from their Christmas Cribs at home or at school to be blessed by the Pope. See Angelus address (Fides Service 16/12/2002)