The visit would also coincide with the 500-year anniversary of the birth of St. Francis Xavier, patron of missions, stated the letter, signed by Bishop Ricardo Blázquez of Bilbao, president of the Spanish episcopal conference.
The letter, dated today, was written and published at the end of the bishops’ plenary assembly held in Madrid.
The letter called the upcoming World Meeting «a privileged occasion for the evangelization of the family, which … remains as a sanctuary of life and hope and as a privileged place for the transmission of the faith to new generations.»
Benedict XVI has expressed his intention to attend the meeting of families in Valencia, although his plans have not been officially confirmed.
The official Web page of the 5th World Meeting for Families has already received 1 million visits.
The English-language edition of the page is at www.wmf2006.org/en.
