John Paul, live, in Luneta

This afternoon – Saturday, January 25 – at two o’clock, the Fourth World Meeting of Families will shift its venue to the Luneta. From five until eight in the evening John Paul II will appear, live, on giant video walls, by satellite television from the Vatican.

Families from all over the world, from all the continents, will be present on the Quirino Grandstand. They will give testimonials on their own family life, in their own country. John Paul will watch the event in Manila from the Vatican, and the crowd in the Luneta will see and hear him. He will give his reaction to the family testimonies, live.

He really wanted to be present in Manila for this World Meeting. The title that he himself announced in Rome, three years ago, was: "The Fourth World Meeting of Families with the Holy Father!" When his doctors decided that the long trip from winter in Rome to the tropical Philippines might be dangerous to his health, and gave it as their considered opinion that he should not go, he was depressed.

But he has monitored the progress of events in Manila, and all the preparations for this World Meeting. And he has decided to do the next best thing: to be present to the families when they give their testimony, and to react to each one, personally, through inter-active satellite television.

Manila is seven hours ahead of Rome, so when the families come to the microphones in the Luneta from five to eight on Saturday evening, Manila time, John Paul will be watching, and answering, from ten in the morning until 1:00 p.m. in the Vatican. Both the Luneta and the Vatican will be seen and heard on the Filipino national television networks.

For the past three days – from early on Wednesday morning, January 22, until the evening of Friday, January 24 – the World Meeting has taken place in the Philippine International Convention Center. The International Theological and Pastoral Conference filled the great Assembly Hall and overflowed into the large reception room, where the delegates watched the speaker on wide screens. There was also a Congress for Toddlers, from the ages of three to six; a Congress for those in their pre-teens, from seven to twelve years old, and a much bigger Congress for Youth – the boys and girls between thirteen and eighteen. All four of these gatherings were brought to the people of the Philippines, from Laoag to Tawi-Tawi, by radio and by television.

This morning, Saturday morning, January 25, the delegates will divide into fourteen language groups, and attend Mass in fourteen churches in Manila. Eight of the Masses will be celebrated in foreign languages; six in our own Filipino dialects.

After the Mass, in each of the fourteen parishes, there will be a barrio fiesta – to introduce our foreign guests to the joyous rural culture of the Philippines. The warmth and affection, the gentleness and courtesy, the smile of the Filipino – these have been the best possible antidote to the media message which the foreign delegates received in their own countries – that the Philippines is now terrorist territory.

The boys and girls dancing in the barrio fiesta, the laughter of the children, families eating together out of the same bamboo dish, the kindness of the old people, the joy that everyone finds in sharing with each other – seeing these things at close range will make a deeper impact than the grim announcement on radio, and the isolated sensational story on international television. When the foreign delegates go back to their own countries, their word of mouth testimony, their happy memories will be the best possible advertising for the Philippines.

In the Luneta, a Mexican family will testify to the holiness of their families, the family as an agent of renewal in the Mexican parishes. An African family will speak of the struggles in building a family – especially the challenges that face a single parent. A poor Filipino family will explain how the destitute poor pray – even in the squatter shacks – how they reach up to God, knowing that Christ Our Lord loves the poor, because he was poor, himself.

From Zamboanga in the Philippines a family will explain forgiveness in the family – how Christian parents reconcile with a son or daughter who is a convert to Islam. This testimony will show that reconciliation between Muslims and Christians is not only possible – it really happens!

A Lithuanian family, from Europe, will speak of their care for the Elderly. This is especially relevant today, because of the prevalence of mercy killing. In the United States, a Federal Court decreed: "In the light of the decisions made by the Supreme Court on Abortion, the State can not interfere with assisted suicide." The Fourth World Meeting of Families is making an honest effort to face the problems of the world.

Bishop Soc Villegas will introduce a liturgy of light, after all the testimonies have been given. Candles will be lighted, throughout the Luneta. John Paul will deliver his final Papal Message to the Fourth World Meeting of Families, and bless all the people – those in the Luneta, those watching on television, and even those listening on radio. There will be a consecration of families. And the whole festive celebration will end with fireworks.

At eight in the evening the Vigil of Youth will begin, and run until midnight. This vigil will be prayerful. Speakers – who have been chosen because they are on the wave length of youth – will present their reflections on the family. The need that children have of parents. The need that every boy and girl have for a home. The value of children to the mother, to the father. The importance of the family to every member of it. And the joy that comes from mutual sharing.

At midnight El Shaddai will conduct its prayer meeting, led by Brother Mike Velarde. They will hold the stage until five on Sunday morning. At that time those in charge of the liturgy will begin preparations for the final Mass. At seven His Eminence Alfonso Cardinal Lopez Trujillo, of Colombia in South America, will be the principal celebrant. He is the President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, and the Papal Legate to the Fourth World Meeting of Families.

It is hoped that the World Meeting will strengthen families, all over the world – not only families who are Christian, but those who are Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish – all the children of God. The Year 2003 is the year of the Family. And the principal thrust of the Catholic Church, for this entire year, will be: To build the Church of the Home.