The family is a key issue today for the Church, society and for politics, according to Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, who is accompanying Pope Francis to the World Meeting of Families in Dublin.
Speaking to the Austrian Press Agency Kathpress shortly before leaving Vienna for Ireland, the cardinal said the family is rated highly by young people, is seen as a “survival network” in difficult times and is altogether “society’s success model”.
He continued: “The World Meeting of Families is a living witness of marriage and the family in our times”, adding that he was very much looking forward to meeting the other participants.
Schönborn will be moderating the discussion group on “The family in Judaeo-Christian tradition” at the WMF together with the Anglican Archbishop of Dublin, Michael Jackson and Rabbi Zalman Lent of the Dublin Jewish community, among others.
On 22 August, together with Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick, the cardinal will present the English edition of the new Catechism for children between 8 and 12, “YOUCAT for Kids” published by the Austrian bishops’ conference, the German original of which came out on 1 August.
The catechism is full of coloured illustrations and answers questions that children frequently ask like “Why do I exist?”, “How do we know that God exists?” or “What happens to me when I die” besides explaining the ten commandments, the Sacraments and what a Pope is in simple language. A special programme entitled “When little philosophers ask big questions”, will be devoted to introducing YOUCAT for Kids to parents and children at the WMF.