SW News: In less than a week, the city of Rome will host the World Meeting of Families. With the preparations well underway for the event, which was last held in Dublin in 2018, nearly 2,000 families are expected to be part of the event.

The 10th World Meeting of Families (WMOF), organized by the Vatican Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life in collaboration with the Diocese of Rome, goes with the theme "Family love: vocation and a path to holiness". It is aimed at putting forth family love as a vocation and a path to holiness. It will also expound on the profound meaning of family relationships in everyday life.

Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, talks by Catholic couples, family activities, and a live performance by the Italian operatic pop duo Il Volo are the events that will be held during those days. Pope Francis will attend three events, starting with the inaugural gathering, the Festival of Families, on June 22. The Pastoral Congress will take place from Thursday, June 23, through Saturday, June 25. The Pope will preside over Mass in St Peter's Square on Saturday afternoon. During Sunday Angelus, the Holy Father will once again address the families.

On Pope John Paul II's initiative, the first-ever World Meeting of Families was held in Rome in 1994. In the year 2000, the event was again hosted in Rome. The meetings are held every three years on average. Before the meeting in Dublin, Philadelphia hosted the World Meeting of Families in 2015.

Due to the pandemic restrictions, the number of families allowed to attend this year’s gathering has been limited to 2,000. Following a year of postponement due to the epidemic, Pope Francis has requested bishops worldwide to make the WMOF accessible to all families. Every diocese worldwide is invited to participate in the celebration of families.