Cardinal López Trujillo visits Valencia to supervise preparations (7-09-2005)

Valencia - Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, has confirmed in his visit to Valencia (14th and 15th June) that the celebration of the WMF here in 2006 is a "huge defy but also shows our huge confidence in Valencia and in Spain.".

Monsignor López Trujillo visited some of the places suggested for the central act of the WMF (the Mass presided by the Pope) and found them "impressive and beautiful." He reminded that the election of Valencia was a personal choice of John Paul II that Benedict XVI has confirmed with "great joy."

After visiting that scenario and the velodrome, where the final session of the Congress will be held, he met all the staff responsible for the preparation in the Auditorium of the St. Vincent Catholic University. He then held another meeting with the members of the Foundation patronage - regional and local authorities, as well as the Archbishop and some of his aides.

After his two-day visit and before he went back to Rome, he declared to AVAN agency that "the future depends very much on how we transmit our faith within the family", in reference to the theme chosen by John Paul II and ratified by Benedict XVI for this WMF - The transmission of faith in the family. "If faith doesn't pass from the family to the children as kids and then as teenagers, he added, we wouldn't be able to provide a future for them." Family "should always be complemented by the parish and the school for sure, but it constitutes the necessary first step for the faith to bear fruit and make the Christian conscience to grow up. More than ever before, we need to value the importance and responsibility of this institution that comes from God, so that children are not only conceived in love, but inserted into society in a positive way and educated in human and Christian values."

Talking about the preparation of the WMF, he praised the "courage, commitment and enthusiasm shown by those involved that I have seen here." He also thanked local authorities and institutions for their co-operation "and motivated work for this defy, that is, at the same time, a great opportunity for such a historic event of the Church and Valencia. This preparation will bring remarkable pastoral wealth... you are sowing for history and the future."

Finally, he remarked that "Valencia has the reputation of being welcoming and friendly and is now going through a historical process of great progress, development and beautification. This city is getting ready with dignity to become a wonderful scenario, opened to the whole world. I bless all your work on behalf of the Holy Father", he concluded.