World Meeting of Families 2015

Press conference outlines plans for 2015 World Meeting of Families

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 same. (Photos by Sarah Webb)

Archbishop Chaput to bring civic leaders to Rome for meeting with Pope Francis

The archbishop, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter announced at a press conference March 7 that they will travel with a group of top business execs to Rome to plan for the 2015 World Meeting of Families -- and, possibly, the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia.

Come to Philadelphia: An invitation to the world’s families for 2015

Archbishop Charles Chaput in his weekly column invites families to come together to reinforce each other’s vocation, to deepen their faith and to experience the presence of God at the World Meeting of Families next year. Its mission is to show the joy of authentic family life to the world, and to invite others from around the world to share in it.

Marriage, family and some help for Pope Francis

In less than two years the Church in Philadelphia will host the Eighth World Meeting of Families. Aside from a press conference last year, so far the event has seemed well over the horizon; something to pleasantly daydream about without too much anxious detail. That's about to change.

Farrell named head of planning for 2015 World Meeting of Families

Donna Farrell, former communications director for the Philadelphia Archdiocese, becomes the executive director of the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. The independent group she leads is planning for a week of events on the family and the possible visit of Pope Francis to the city.

Statement from the Holy See and the Pontifical Council for the Family

Released Feb. 25, 2013 at 6 a.m. EST, in Vatican City On June 3, 2012, at the Closing Mass of the VII World Meeting of Families in Milan, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, announced to a congregation of approximately one million Catholic faithful that the next international gathering of families would take place in the […]

A brief history of the World Meeting of Families

Overview: Since it began in 1994, the World Meeting of Families has sought to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe. This event takes place every three years and is sponsored by the Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family. The Pontifical Council for the Family: The Pontifical Council for the Family, founded […]

Philadelphia tapped to host World Meeting of Families in 2015, welcoming thousands, maybe a new pope

Global attention will turn to Philadelphia in three years when the city expects to welcome hundreds of thousands of families for the World Meeting of Families -- and possibly the new pope. Archbishop Charles Chaput led a morning press conference Feb. 25 to announce that the Vatican confirmed earlier in the day the long-anticipated selection of Sept. 22-27, 2015 as the date for the gathering of families, Catholic and non-Catholic, from around the world.

What the logo for World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia means

Learn how the distinctive logo contains elements of family, faith and Philadelphia -- the host city for the eighth World Meeting of Families and the first in an American city.