The Family: work and celebration”. This is the theme of 7th World meeting of Families which will take place from the 30^th May to the 3^rd June 2012 in Milan, Italy. Promoted by the Holy See through the Pontifical Council for the Family and the Archdiocese of Milan, the organization of this event mobilizes quite a number of associations, groups and movements that contribute towards the well-being of the family.

Work began on 30 May with a Congress on Pastoral Theology, with opening words from Prof. Luigino Bruni of Bicocca University of Milian. On the evening of 1 June, there was a concert at the Scala with Maestro D. Barenboim.

For Benedict XVI, this edition of the World Meeting of Families is “an opportunity to reflect about work and rest as aspects of a united family, open to life, well inserted in society and in the Church, attentive to the quality of relationtionships besides that of the household economy”.

Since the very beginning, the families of the Focolare Movement have been contributing towards the organization of this event, both as members of the Pontifical Council for the Family and also because of a longstanding presence in religious and civil institutions that contribute towards the well-being of families in Lombardy. The appointment given for Saturday morning 2nd June at Carroponte di Sesto San Giovanni will be in preparation for the evening meeting with Benedict XVI. From there they will proceed together to Bresso Airport to greet the Pope. “Relating about families while waiting for the Pope” is the programme intended for this session. Maria Voce and the couple Anna Maria and Danilo Zanzucchi, who are among those who began the New Families Movement, are expected to participate and give talks.