Pope stresses importance of family

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."