VATICAN CITY, APRIL 22, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the 6th World Meeting of Families, who were present in Rome today to present the Pope with some of the fruits of the January conference.
The Jan. 13-18 meeting was held this year in Mexico City. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Holy Father's secretary of state, attended as the Pontiff's special envoy.
About 100 of the organizers, accompanied by Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, archbishop primate of Mexico, and Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, were greeted by the Pope at today's general audience.
"May your time in Rome confirm you in the faith of the apostles and motivate you to be disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ, who with his resurrection has conquered sin and death and who encourages us to be witnesses of the truth of the Gospel that changes our lives," he told them.
The Mexican pilgrims presented the Holy Father with an image of himself comprised of 7,182 photos of persons and families from 261 cities in 25 countries. They also gave him the conclusions of the family meeting, including the conferences, the summaries of the round tables, etc.
The Holy Father expressed his gratitude to the group by inviting them to participate in a private Mass he celebrated today in the Apostolic Palace.
