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The World Meeting of Families is a gathering of the Roman Catholic Church that has occurred every three years since 1994. It is organized by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, which promotes the pastoral care of families, protects their rights and dignity in the Church and in civil society, so that they may ever be more able to fulfill their duties. It is the biggest gathering of Catholic families in the world. “Love is our mission. The family fully alive” was the theme of the 8th World Meeting of Families held in Philadelphia, Pa 22-27 September 2015. This was the first time the meeting was held in the United States with approximately 20,000 attendees from 100 different countries. Adult attendees received practical tips on how to improve their family and strengthen their relationship with God from a panel of internationally known speakers. The youth in attendance had their own program featuring speakers, performers and activities, including “Fill a Bag, Fill a Heart." Kids aged 6-17 filled bags with personal items and handwritten notes to help those in need. Pope Francis attended the meeting on 26-27 during the conclusion of his visit to the United States. He celebrated Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter and Paul and then delivered a speech to a crowd of about 50,000 people on Independence Mall. Later that night, Pope Francis attended the Festival of Families, a major event that is part of the World Meeting of Families gathering. Some of those performing for the Pope were Aretha Franklin, Andrea Bocelli, The Fray, Jim Gaffigan, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Mark Wahlberg filled the role of master of ceremonies. Chiara Principe designed the World Meeting of Families €2,30 stamp. The design includes families of three ethnic groupings standing on a globe with depictions of the Philadelphia skyline, including the Liberty Bell. The stamp was printed in sheets of ten. Technical Details: Scott Catalogue - 1594 - 1594 Date Issued - 02 September 2015 Face Value - €2,30 Perforations - 13.65x13.77 Printing Process - Offset Printer - Printex (Malta) Max Printed - 100,000 |
| (Source - Vatican Notes: Volume: 63 Issue: 366 Page: 4-6) |
