An exceptional gift

The Pope will be in Milan for three days, from Friday 1 to Sunday June 3rd, on the occasion of the 7th World Meeting of Families (www.family2012.com). It was announced by the archbishop of Milan Angelo Scola, who presented on February 28 the program of the pontifical visitation for the World Meeting, due to take place from May 29 to June 3 2012. Benedict XVI will land at the airport of Milan Linate. After the meeting with citizens in piazza Duomo, Hi Holiness will attend a concert at the Teatro alla Scala directed by Daniel Barenboim. On Saturday morning the Pontiff will recite the Lauds in the Dome with priests and men and women religious. He will then meet candidates for confirmation at the Meazza stadium. The Feast of Christian witness on Saturday evening and the Sunday morning Mass (June 3) are the highlights of the Papal visit. An extraordinary event. "A three-day visit is an extraordinary event. It is exceptional for a visit in Italy", said cardinal Angelo Scola. "The Pope – said the archbishop – wishes to meet Milan. He is now presenting us with this gift twenty-seven years since the visit of the predecessor of John Paul II". It is a gift "to the city" and to the "Churches of Lombardy". The archbishop described the event "marked by major ecclesial and civil relevance", which in this "time of ordeals" constitutes "a significant contribution" for "the growth of the good life of the Gospel and the good life of the human community". The cardinal invited the city of Milan and all of Lombardy to "look forward" to the ecclesial event, that will bring together "at least 300 thousand people from all over the world" (over one million faithful are expected to attend the final Mass with Benedict XVI). His Eminence thus focused on the theme chosen: "The family: work and feast" – pointing our that "the decision to establish a link between the family, the working environment and the time of rest" is "very effective from a cultural angle", capable of promoting "an anthropological awakening" needed to address contemporary challenges. "Man– concluded card. Scola – must rediscover himself, recover the meaning of being in a relationship, addressing life in peace and with enthusiasm". For this purpose, "this event acts as a strong token of civil education".The whole world in Milan. The President of the Pontifical council for the Family, cardinal Ennio Antonelli, provided some figures on the "international" contribution of participants. His Eminence made known that people from "Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe and Oceania" have already registered for the event. Reflections on the theme ‘the Family, work and feast’ have been ongoing for many months", said the President of the Pontifical Council, "with a wide range of initiatives. Catecheses were translated in eleven languages including Portuguese, Arabic, Polish and Russian". The entire world will be represented, and "a fund collection is under way to enable families from poor countries to attend". 66 cardinals have already confirmed their presence, as well as many bishops. In particular, speakers from 27 countries will attend the theological pastoral gathering scheduled to take place during the world meeting. Bishop Erminio De Scalzi, President of the 2012 Milano Famiglie Foundation, called upon the faithful of the dioceses of Lombardy to participate directly and if possible also contribute as volunteers, in the awareness that "it is the first world meeting in Italy outside of Rome". "Our desire is to host 100 thousand families in an equal number of homes", pointed out Father Bruno Marinoni, responsible of the event’s organization, joining the recent appeal to families to open their doors.The richness of a proposal. At the presentation of the papal program for the world Meeting of Families took part also the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Msgr. Jean Laffitte, who spoke of the theological pastoral meeting scheduled to take place from May 30 to June 1st (www.family2012.com). The figures of the event are: "111 speakers from 27 world countries, 3 days of work with 31 events in Milan and in Lombardy", with over 5 thousand participants expected to attend. These numbers alone, the Secretary pointed out, "are enough to describe the richness of the proposal".