World Has Great Need for Healthy Families, Says Pope

The Pope made that point in an address today when he received in audience the participants in the General Congress of the International Union of Schoenstatt Families.

"The future of humanity is forged in the family," the Holy Father said in German, reminding his audience that the family is the charism of their Marian movement of renewal.

"The family is a 'school of love,'" he said. "Transmit to people your enthusiasm for marriage and the family!"

"Society has greater need than ever for healthy families that are capable of defending common values," the Holy Father added. "If we strengthen the sacred institution of marriage and the family in keeping with the divine plan, love and solidarity will grow among peoples."

In this Year of the Eucharist, John Paul II invited Schoenstatt members to find "in the supreme sacrament of love the source of all communion."

"In this way, you will be able 'to live the beauty and mission of the family,'" he said.

The Schoenstatt Movement was founded by a German priest, Joseph Kentenich (1885-1968), and has several million followers worldwide.