For families in crisis

“Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even their differences”. This is Pope Francis’ invitation to the faithful for the month of March. In the video released by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which was recorded before the Holy Father was hospitalized on Friday, 14 February, Pope Francis begins by saying, “We all dream about a beautiful, perfect family”. However, he notes, “there’s no such thing as a perfect family. Every family has its own problems, as well as its tremendous joys”. He goes on to explain that “every member of the family is important because... each person is unique”. But, he acknowledges, “these differences can also cause conflict and painful wounds”. He explains that “the best medicine to heal the pain of a wounded family is forgiveness”, which means “giving another chance”, something God does with us all the time. “God’s patience is infinite. He forgives us, lifts us up, gives us a new start”. The Pope concludes with the comforting reminder that “even when there’s no possibility of the ‘happy ending’ we’d like, God’s grace gives us the strength to forgive, and it brings peace, because it frees us from sadness, and, above all, from resentment”.

The Pope Video is available in more than 23 languages. It is distributed with the help of La Machi Communication for Good Causes and sponsored by Vatican Media.