Vatican City, Jun 6, 2012 / 10:38 am
Pope Benedict XVI says he saw an "inspiring witness" during his three-day apostolic visit to the June 1-3 World Meeting of Families in Milan.
"This joyful international gathering was an inspiring witness to the rich and varied identity of the family as a communion of love based on marriage, a sanctuary of life, a domestic church and the primary cell of society," he told pilgrims at his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square on June 6.
The international gathering in Milan brought together families from over 150 countries to the northern Italian city to pray, celebrate and study marriage and family life. The theme for this year's event was "The Family: Work and Celebration."
"It is in the family that we discover our God-given vocation to love, to enter into relationship with others and to live together in harmony," Pope Benedict reminded those at today's audience.
It is customary for the Pope to use his first general audience following an apostolic journey to reflect on his visit.