The president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, announced this week that during the World Meeting of Families January 16-18 in Mexico, Pope Benedict XVI will address the gathering via satellite from the Vatican.

Cardinal Antonelli said the Pontiff wanted to attend the event but will not able to make the trip on the advice of his doctors, who have advised the Pope to carefully select his international travels.

He also revealed that the Pope’s special envoy for the event will be Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.