Report from Dublin: "God is family"

Matteo Ciofi

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Cardinal Lacroix moderating a discussion at the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, Ireland

2018 World Meeting of Families in Dublin - Day 2

With the opening ceremony last night, the WMOF has started to come alive. Thousands of people have attended the first workshops at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) in the Ballsbridge area of Dublin, including one at the “Family Arena” on environmental awareness for families, combining the main themes of Laudato Si' and Amoris Laetitia.

Afterwards, a double Gospel concert took place, while the Italian morning program consisted of a debate moderated by Linda Ghisoni, Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

The beginning of the WMOF was accompanied yesterday by the pope's message, published at 7 pm, at the same time that the inaugural ceremony began. He expressed his excitement at the thought of returning to Ireland and emphasized the importance of young people as part of the whole family:

“Young people are the future! It is very important to prepare young people for the future, to prepare them today, in the present, but with the roots of the past: the young and the grandparents. It is very important.”

Meanwhile, yesterday's heat has given way to a typically Irish climate, and in the area around the RDS, numerous activities accompany the pilgrims: street food, performances of Irish folk music, and many entertainment spaces for children, in particular the YouCat.

In the morning, Cardinal Lacroix moderated a meeting entitled "Looking to Jesus: Presenting Commitment to Marriage as a Path to Joy Today". He said he was very happy to be here, but above all he was hopeful that an even more beautiful and powerful message from this event might reach people because "God is family," as he underlined.

The presence of Spanish and French pilgrims is very strong, while there are few Italians and Germans so far. The party atmosphere here is contagious, with a clear desire to share together an experience of prayer, devotion, and fun.

Many have been inevitably shaken these past few days by the report from Pennsylvania, so this resurgence of joy is wonderful to see.