Cdl. Tagle, dean of the College of Cardinals, read Pope Leo’s homily at the meeting’s closing Mass
VATICAN CITY — Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the closing Mass for the Vatican meeting of bishops on marriage and family on Oct. 14, reading aloud a homily that had been prepared by Pope Leo XIV prior to his lung cancer surgery.
Pope Leo had been scheduled to preside over the closing Mass in St. Peter’s Square, but he underwent lung surgery on Oct. 13.
Participants in the Oct. 7-14 gathering of the world’s bishops’ conference presidents and the heads of Eastern Catholic churches marking the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ document on the family, “Amoris Laetitia,” prayed for Pope Leo’s recovery in the Prayer of the Faithful during the Mass and listened to the words that the pope had prepared for them.
“The world has no future without strong families open to the gift of children and attentive to their education and growth,” Pope Leo wrote in his homily, which emphasized the important role of families in educating and forming the young in the virtues.
The pope, quoting Amoris in part, highlighted that “the importance of the virtues, among which a special place is given to chastity, which is ‘invaluable for the genuine growth of love between persons,’” in preparing young people for true love in marriage.
“Marriage preparation programs conscientiously developed for this purpose in parishes and pastoral areas are commendable. Yet such courses alone are insufficient, for they must be preceded and supported by an education in love that accompanies a person’s growth from childhood,” he wrote.
Pope Leo highlighted Pope Francis’ post-synodal apostolic exhortation that followed the Synod on the Family, saying that “marriage preparation begins at birth.”
Pope Leo said that “the values of openness to life and respect for life, from conception to natural death, are also rooted in this charity, which is fundamental to our existence and to our life together as human beings.”
“The family is the foremost guardian of these values, a beacon for the good of humanity,” he added.
Following the closing Mass, the bishops, families and experts taking part in the “Amoris Laetitia” meeting were scheduled to meet again in the late afternoon for the presentation of the meeting’s synthesis report.
Due to the request of Pope Leo prior to his surgery, the meeting’s final synthesis report will no longer be made public on Oct. 14. Jesuit Father Giacomo Costa, a consultant to the General Secretariat of the Synod, said that the pope “wanted to listen to it and be able to offer his own word on it himself.”
At opening Mass, Pope Leo calls attention to the ‘fragility of families’
Pope Leo opened the meeting on Oct. 7, saying “the beauty and fragility of families” today will be at the heart of the week’s discussions.
“During these days dedicated to prayer and reflection, we intend to place the beauty and fragility of families at the heart of our journey,” Pope Leo prayed as he opened the meeting in the Paul VI Audience Hall.
“Together, we seek to discern the direction in which the Holy Spirit is guiding us, so as to recognize, support and promote the work He is already accomplishing within them and to value their precious contribution to the mission of the Church.”
Speaking in English, the pope encouraged the bishops to face the questions raised by the lived experience of families today, paying special attention to fragile situations.
The pope said that faith can enlighten all families, including situations marked by difficulties, loneliness and at times even apparent failure, noting that the gap between the good we desire and what we are able to live is a reminder of the need for “grace, forgiveness and new beginnings to accomplish God’s will.”
The bishops’ family summit was divided into five daily themes for discussion, ranging from discerning the vocation to marriage to accompanying and supporting the difficulties of life.
