‘Accept help, save the family’ . . . pleaded Pope Francis to couples in difficulty, during the Christmas greetings to the Vatican’s employees on December 21, 2017.
In the course of this meeting in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father gave an off-the-cuff address in which he recalled marital difficulties: “I would like to say sincerely: when I know that one of your families is going through a crisis and that the children are anguished . . . I suffer,” he confided, urging: “Allow yourselves to be helped . . . please, save the families!”
“I know that it’s not easy, that there are personality problems, psychological problems,” recognized the Pontiff, “there are numerous problems in a marriage . . . but try to ask for help in time . . . so that the children won’t suffer.” “I know that among you, there are separated persons . . . and I suffer with you,” he said.
In his impromptu address, Pope Francis exhorted those present to “take care of the family . . . the family! It’s the greatest treasure because God created us as family.”
“The family is the image of God, man and woman, fruitful. Multiply, have children, go ahead!”
He called on them to resolve conjugal problems without involving the children “because when parents quarrel, the children suffer, suffer.” It’s advice that I give you: never, never quarrel in front of the children, because they don’t understand,” he added.
