Vatican City, Apr 29, 2004 / 22:00 pm
In an address this morning to members of the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences, who are celebrating their annual plenary session, the Pope reaffirmed the primary role of the family in fostering ‘inter-generational solidarity’, the Academy’s current theme of study.
“The family, as the origin and foundation of human society also has an irreplaceable role in the building of inter-generational solidarity. There is no age when one ceases to be a father or mother, a son or daughter," said the Pope.
The Pope noted that the theme was closely related to the theme of globalization, and “the pressures of a consumer society which cause families to divert attention from the home to the workplace or a variety of social activities.”
“In earlier times”, said the Pope, “the care of grown children for their parents was taken for granted.” The solidarity of marriage encompassed the couple and the children and this "in turn led to solidarity between grown children and their aging parents."