Letter from Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. on the World Meeting of Families

Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Office of the Archbishop
222 North 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 1 91 03- 1 299

Dear friends in Jesus Christ,

Exactly one month from this weekend,World Meeting of Families 2015 will begin. Enthusiasm for the congress,both nationally and globally, is very strong. We hoped for 250 congress exhibitors. We now have 428. As of today,we have nearly 15,000 registered participants,and the number may finally reach 17,000. In other words, Philadelphia is already the largest World Meeting of Families in history by the number of congress registrations,and it’s double the size of the last family congress in Milan in 2012. For the visit of Pope Francis,we hope for somewhere near 700,000 for the Saturday Festival of Families and roughly 1million for the Sunday papal Mass.

I have one main concern,and I need your help in overcoming it. The only thing standing between an enormously successful World Meeting of Families and one that’s “merely” successful is us, ourselves- and I mean the whole Philadelphia Catholic community. We can defeat ourselves by not registering for the congress,and by giving in to the anxieties and worries that go along with any major effort like this. The media have been wonderful and very positive in covering this event. We’re grateful for their help. But as we get closer to September 22,there’s always a temptation to focus on possible problems in security,logistics and transportation. And when that happens,people can begin to wonder if the effort of coming to Center City is worth the time and energy. I promise you that it is. This is a moment of grace. Nothing will stop that. Memories will be made. And the World Meeting of Families will be spectacular.

To that end,I’m happy to share some important news about transportation and logistics. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the World Meeting of Families have announced that those buses registered through GO GROUND,the bus company working with the World Meeting,will be able to access roads that are otherwise closed to traffic. Buses and public transportation will truly be the best way for groups to get to the city for the Papal Events.

Pope Francis is one ofthe most popular and magnetic world leaders in the past century. His visit here is an irreplaceable moment in history. It’s a moment that can spark a whole new spirit of life in our region and in our Church. But we need to own that spirit by welcoming him with our joy,our presence and our personal involvement,not just with our words. And we can do that best by joining him in the streets of Philadelphia –on Independence Mall,at the Festival of Families,and on the Ben Franklin Parkway for his Sunday Mass.

I ask all of you –I urge all of you– to personally register for and attend the family congress, and especially the papal events on the weekend of September 26-27. Your example is vitally important for your children, for the Church and for the wider community. Your personal involvement is crucial for the success of the efforts so many people have made on behalf of the Gospel over the past 36 months.

I’m very grateful for your generosity and your faith. May God bless all of us in the weeks ahead. And I look forward eagerly to seeing all of you at the World Meeting of Families.

Sincerely yours in the Lord,

Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Philadelphia