Pope Francis spoke several times about the family yesterday, in his speech to the European Parliament at the Plenary Session in Strasbourg. Giving hope to Europe, according to Francis, "means more than simply acknowledging the centrality of the human person; it also implies nurturing the gifts of each man and woman. It means—he said—investing in individuals and in those settings in which their talents are shaped and flourish. The first area surely is that of education, beginning with the family, the fundamental cell and most precious element of any society."
The family, "united, fertile and indissoluble—Francis continued—possesses the elements fundamental for fostering hope in the future. Without this solid basis, the future ends up being built on sand, with dire social consequences." On the other hand, "stressing the importance of the family—said Francis— not only helps to give direction and hope to new generations, but also to many of our elderly, who are often forced to live alone and are effectively abandoned because there is no longer the warmth of a family hearth able to accompany and support them."
Alongside the family, "there are the various educational institutes: schools and universities. Education cannot be limited to providing technical expertise alone. Rather, it should encourage the more complex process of assisting the human person to grow in his or her totality. Young people today are asking for a suitable and complete education which can enable them to look to the future with hope instead of disenchantment." Finally the Pope encouraged the Members of the European Parliament "to work together in building a Europe which revolves not around the economy, but around the sacredness of the human person, around inalienable values."
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