Chai Brady
The papal Mass on August 26, which 500,000 people are expected to attend, will be the biggest event in Europe this year according to organisers.
With such a huge influx of people, WMOF2018 has released a new animated video called ‘Leave no trace’ which aims to encourage pilgrims to reduce their environmental footprint during the World Meeting of Families (WMOF).
It suggests people travel lightly, leave their car behind and choose eco-friendly transport, go plastic free, leave no trace and take time to reflect on God’s creation.
Jane Mellett, project co-ordinator for ‘Care for our Common Home’, says Pope Francis has invited everyone to enter a conversation about the threats the planet faces as a result of environmental destruction.
She said: “The ‘Our Common Home’ project encourages everyone, through prayer, discussion, and action, to think deeply about the kind of world we will leave to the generations coming after us. This is one of the most challenging issues of our time, and the World Meeting of Families 2018 offers the chance to explore this with participants.
“We all have a part to play in protecting our common home. If everyone joining the World Meeting of Families takes responsibility to be an eco-pilgrim on their journey we can minimise our impact throughout the event, and most importantly at the Papal Mass in Phoenix Park.”
She added: “This wonderful park is a great example of God’s creation, and we ask all our pilgrims to do their best to leave no trace while they are here, and bring home all they bring with them, so that the beauty of this park can be enjoyed by generations to come.”
According to organisers, the total attendance for the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland for the WMOF is expected to be 750,000, in comparison attendance at the 1916 Centenary Eater Sunday Parade was 350,000.
Half a million tickets have been booked for the WMOF2018 Closing Mass in the Phoenix Park, with pilgrims coming from Ireland and abroad, pointing to an attendance more than six times that of Croke Park at full capacity.
The previous WMOF locations include: Rome (1994); Rio de Janeiro (1997); Rome (2000); Manila (2003); Valencia (2006); Mexico City (2009); Milan (2012); and Philadelphia (2015).
Among the 292 speakers at the Pastoral Congress being held in the RDS over August 22-24 will be 91 women, 65 lay men, and 44 clergy and religious, with the largest group of speakers being couples.