![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/2.38123354.jpg\")
The World Meeting of Families (WMOF) has officially got under way ahead of the Pope\u2019s visit to Ireland.<\/p>\nThe World Meeting of Families (WMOF) has officially got under way ahead of the Pope\u2019s visit to Ireland.<\/p>\n
Thousands descended on the RDS this evening to attend the opening ceremony.<\/p>\n
Church bells were rung simultaneously across Ireland\u2019s 26 dioceses to launch the five-day Catholic congress. Prayers were also said throughout the dioceses.<\/p>\n
More than 37,000 people from 116 different countries are expected to attend the RDS for a series of events as part of the festival.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of thousands more will attend the celebrations that will be led by Pope Francis this weekend in Dublin and Knock.<\/p>\n
The WMOF will culminate with the closing papal mass in the Phoenix Park on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The event has gained huge significance since the Pope made a statement on Monday apologizing for the clerical sexual abuse scandals.<\/p>\n
In a letter to the world\u2019s more than 1 billion Catholics, Pope Francis said the Church needed to move to end the culture of death within it.<\/p>\n
The opening ceremony, which was entitled Le Cheile le Criost, included hymns, psalms and prayers for “the entire human family before God”.<\/p>\n
In his homily, the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, welcomed the thousands of international visitors to the country.<\/p>\n
Families and pilgrimage groups will travel from as far as Africa, Canada, Europe, Australia and India to partake.<\/p>\n
Archbishop Martin said: \u201cThere are those who would look at the World Meeting as some sort of ideological gathering to celebrate a type of family which probably does not exist.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever of the past, here in Dublin the World Meeting is something much more profound: it is to reflect the opening words of our reading: \u2018You are God\u2019s chosen race; he loves you\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Martin added: \u201cThe family is not a remote ideological notion but the place where compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience and forgiveness are learned, practiced and spread.\u201d<\/p>\n
The archbishop said family life has changed in Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt may seem a strange thing to say, but we have to find ways of ensuring that these new relationships and challenges in family culture become \u2018clothed in love\u2019,\u201d Dr Martin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly the power of love can purify and restore our Church and us and our society.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWe thank God for the at times immense sacrifice that exists in the love within families.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe pray for those who have never experienced such love or from whom such love was stolen through abuse or neglect.\u201d<\/p>\n