Respectful of tradition, the announcement came at the end of the closing Mass. The name of the venue for the next World Day of Families is a closely-guarded secret, known only by a handful of people, including the Pope, who has to approve the decision, and the Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, which has the responsibility of organizing the event.
Cardinal Farrell’s closing remarks
It was the Prefect of that Dicastery, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who made the announcement on Sunday afternoon in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, where Pope Francis had just finished celebrating the closing Mass of the 9th World Meeting, together with families who had come from all over Ireland and the rest of the world.
In his closing remarks, Cardinal Farrell noted that thousands of families came “in order to share the joy of the Gospel. They came in a spirit of ecclesial communion and friendship”. The Cardinal spoke of how the experience of participating in the World Meeting of Families will be a source of inspiration to families and their children, who will be “even more aware of the meaning of their nuptial and family vocation within the Church as they return to their respective communities and parishes”.
Fifth anniversary of Amoris laetitia
The year 2021 will also mark the fifth anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis’ post-synodal Exhortation on the joy of love, Amoris laetitia, which provided much of the basis for reflection both before and during the present World Meeting of Families, aside from being the inspiration for its theme: “The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World”.
