Cathal Barry“Love Is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive” will be the theme for the Sept. 22-27, 2015, meeting in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput unveiled the theme of next year's World Meeting of Families: "Love Is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive."
He said Pope Francis' compassion for the needs of people around the world "and his deep care for the institution of the family" were the inspiration for the theme.
"It not only reminds each of us that love should be our life's mission but that also it is the engine of life. Our goal for the 2015 World Meeting of Families is to create a moment of hope and celebration for all of the world's families – a moment in which we hope Pope Francis will join."
Archbishop Chaput reiterated, as he has in the past, that he does not expect the Pope to announce whether he will come to Philadelphia next year until about March. But he said that the World Meeting of Families is being planned as though the Pope will attend.
The theme "resonates not just with Catholics, but all people of good will," the archbishop said. "It underlines the beauty and truth of family life. The love that we cite in our theme is a love that we must ensure fills every home and all family members with a unique and invigorating light and warmth."
Matthew Gambino Catholic News Service