Spanish archbishop says WMF should translate from joy into action

Jul 16, 2006 / 22:00 pm

Reflecting upon the recent World Meeting of Families (WMF), which Pope Benedict XVI attended in Spain, Archbishop Agustin Garcia-Gasco of Valencia exhorted the faithful to, “move from joy to gratitude, from trust to action.”

According to the AVAN news agency, in his weekly letter the archbishop noted that the WMF, “has signified a new exercise in educating people about the commitment to the common good.”

He noted that the city of Valencia has received congratulations from, “the farthest corners of the world and from innumerable communications media, sparking praiseworthy comments about the success of the organization, the behavior of the participants, and the generous and effective service of the volunteers.”

The archbishop also highlighted that the enormous good brought about by the WMF is the fruit of the multiple efforts and generous collaboration of many, and he encouraged people to extend that “shared effort” to other areas of society in order to address the problems of young people, families, education and social action for those most in need.

Archbishop Garcia-Gasco also praised Valencian Television for its hard work in providing unbiased and complete coverage of the event, unlike other media outlets that chose instead the provide coverage that was, “slanted and misinformed.”

Lastly, he thanked Pope Benedict XVI for, “coming to Valencia, to Spain, and for having called us to a spirit of mutual cooperation, ratified by his gestures and his words.”  “Thank you, Holy Father!” he exclaimed.  “Your presence and your example have resolutely inspired us to be builders of a society fit to live in, a society of love, of the family, of freedom!”