The theme "Love is our Mission: The Family Fully Alive" inspired the icon and the prayer for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, presented on September 16th, in the Press Office of the Holy See, by Msgr. Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, and Msgr. Charles Joseph Chaput, Archbishop of Philadelphia.
"The Prayer and the icon image will inspire everyone as preparations for the meeting advance," said Archbishop Chaput, stating also that he is "confident that the icon and prayer can help us all to examine our minds and hearts, and to deepen our relationship with God and our families significantly."
The official prayer for the World Meeting of Families is intended to help delegates from all over the world in their spiritual preparation for this event. It has been distributed in the parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and is also available on the website dedicated to next September's meeting. This prayer has been conceived to transmit hope and faith to all families.
As for the icon, it will be exposed at Philadelphia’s Cathedral Basilica. It is the work of the painter Neilson Carlin, who was commissioned to create an oil painting depicting the Holy Family with Mary's parents, St. Anne and St. Joachim, as a reminder that "the Christian family is made up of young and old, as well as parents and children, including grandparents and the wider family circle."
