World Meeting of Families 2015

Needs for money, volunteers building for World Meeting of Families

A meeting April 15 drew the Philadelphia region's top business and civic leaders to hear a pitch for tens of millions in needed funding, and 7,000 volunteers, for the Sept. 22-27, 2015, World Meeting of Families event in Philadelphia.

Delegation makes the case for Philadelphia in Rome

See our photo gallery of the delegation from Pennsylvania meeting with church officials in Rome to plan for the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.

Meeting with Philadelphians, Pope Francis urges prayers for world’s clergy

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The world's bishops, priests and deacons need people's prayers and encouragement to continually deepen their relationship with Jesus and serve their community with love, Pope Francis said during his weekly audience March 26. He also met with a delegation from Pennsylvania to discuss the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia next year.

Use social media and invite Pope Francis to Philadelphia

You can join Archbishop Chaput, Gov. Corbett, Mayor Nutter and other leaders in personally inviting Pope Francis to come to Philadelphia next year for the World Meeting of Families. See our links to social media channels to get #PopeInPhilly trending Tuesday and Wednesday.

Archbishop Chaput’s remarks from Vatican press conference

Following are the full remarks of Archbishop Charles Chaput and of Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, during a press conference March 25 at the Holy See Press Office at the Vatican. The archbishops spoke about the planning efforts for the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.

It’s a go: World Meeting of Families officially coming to Philadelphia in 2015

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia next year will be open to families and people of different faiths, including no faith at all, to engage the wider society and strengthen all families, organizers said. The gathering Sept. 22-27, 2015, "is meant to be a gift not just for Catholics in Philadelphia, but for every person of good will," Archbishop Charles Chaput said.

Prayers across archdiocese set for visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia

The four major Catholic shrines in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia invite everyone to join in a Holy Hour of prayer for the visit of the pope to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families in the city in 2015.

U.S. lawmakers invite pope to address joint meeting of Congress

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A bipartisan invitation to Pope Francis to address a joint session of Congress if he comes to the U.S. in 2015 recognizes "the importance of the qualities" the pontiff embodies that resonate with people around the globe, said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington.

Green Bay’s mayor invites Pope Francis to visit Wisconsin city in 2015

GREEN BAY, Wis. (CNS) -- If the National Football League's smallest city can be home to the four-time Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, why can't it host a visit from Pope Francis?

World Meeting of Families press conference

A press conference at the Philadelphia Archdiocese’s pastoral center March 7 revealed plans, and much excitement, for the World Meeting of Families to be held Sept. 22-27, 2015 in Philadelphia. While Pope Francis’ visit for the meeting is not confirmed, speakers at the press conference and hopeful guests were planning for the visit just the […]