Pope stresses importance of family

Published: Jan. 1, 2008 at 11:10 AM

VATICAN CITY, Italy, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI stressed the importance of family and global community Tuesday, which the Roman Catholic Church celebrates as World Day of Peace.

In his sermon in Vatican City, the pope spoke of a theme "I consider particularly important: the human family, a community of peace."

"The first form of communion between persons is that born of the love of a man and a woman who decide to enter a stable union in order to build together a new family," he said. But humanity also is called upon "to build relationships of solidarity and cooperation among themselves."

In a family life -- based on marriage between a man and a woman -- "we experience some of the fundamental elements of peace," the pope said.

He also spoke of the world community, protecting the environment and "the solid foundation of shared spiritual and ethical values."

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Your Daily Horoscope (11 min)
The almanac (41 min)
UPI Sports Calendar for Tuesday, Nov. 24
Hiring rivals' workers can be an advantage
NBA: Los Angeles Clippers 91, Minnesota 87
Tea may help control blood sugar
COL BKB: Maryland 79, Chaminade 51
fark
Photoshop this hypno-gizmo
Nearly six-in-ten Mexicans say living in the U.S. is much better than back in Old Mexico. Lou Dobbs'...
Charges dropped against dad who drove a drunken intruder away from his wife and young kids... with...
The Public Option, which was alive, then dead, then alive, then dead, then alive, then dead, then...
If you are the person who stole more than 1,000,000 bees, please return them as it is nearly pollination...
Caption President Obama and his staff overlooking a computer