On May 19, at the Camera dei Deputati, the book Are You Really There for Me? Caring for the Couple’s Bond was presented, dedicated to the value of emotional relationships and married life. The presentation concluded with a dialogue between the author and the audience and with the presentation of the project “Paths of Light” for couples in difficulty.
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In paragraphs 19–22 of *Amoris Laetitia*, Pope Francis offers a deeply realistic insight into the reality of family life.
He neither idealises nor oversimplifies. He speaks of a humanity marked by conflict, violence and misunderstanding.
The family, a place of love, is also – mysteriously – the place where pain can manifest itself with the greatest intensity.
Scripture, to which the Pope refers, does not hide this truth: from the very beginning, human history has been marked by wounded relationships.
It is a path where love is continually threatened, but also continually called to be reborn.
This perspective sheds profound light on the concrete experience of so many families.
Ten years on from the publication of *Amoris Laetitia*, the invitation is simple: to pause, to listen… and to allow ourselves to be challenged by real life.
And so this journey begins: each month a short passage from the Exhortation, each month a real-life story.
The voice of a family, a couple, a son or a daughter recounting how those words take shape in everyday life: amidst unexpected joys, parenting challenges, fragility and new beginnings.
Here you will find not just reflections, but lived experiences. Because Pope Francis reminds us that love is built day by day, in the folds of real life.
A journey to be read, but above all to be recognised. Because, after all, it speaks of us too.
Your children like olive shoots (Amoris Laetitia nos. 14–18)
When we stopped judging our children, something changed at home: more trust, more dialogue.
This experience reflects the heart of Amoris Laetitia’s message about children as a gift and the need to welcome and accompany them without immediate judgement.
Il 19 marzo 2016, Papa Francesco ha offerto alla Chiesa universale un luminoso messaggio di speranza riguardo all’amore coniugale e famigliare: l’Esortazione apostolica Amoris laetitia, frutto di tre anni di discernimento sinodale sostenuti dall’Anno Santo della Misericordia. In questo decimo anniversario, vogliamo rendere grazie al Signore per l’impulso dato allo studio e alla conversione pastorale della Chiesa e chiedergli il coraggio di proseguire il cammino, accogliendo sempre nuovamente il Vangelo, nella gioia di poterlo annunciare a tutti.
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This testimony recounts the unexpected experience of a “family weekend” organized by young couples in Liguria. Initially hesitant, the author gradually discovers an initiative rich in creativity, human depth, and spirituality. Through simple and authentic encounters, an open space emerges where dialogue and sharing come to life. It is an experience that shows how a lived charism can still generate renewal and hope today.
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“Why do I always fall for it?”, Penelope asks angrily. It happens frequently in relationships with men who use manipulative communication. Of course, Penelope is not aware of manipulation, because when we are in a dysfunctional relationship, we hardly understand its nature. Even when we are cognitively aware of it, it is not said that we cannot “fall” for it emotionally. Because the heart gets the better of the head.
[more]The weekend, entitled “The couple’s yes to God – the words of a lifetime”, saw the participation of 81 families (163 adults and 34 minors). The meeting was organized in collaboration with the national secretariat of Famiglie Nuove as part of the “Families at Work” path and took place on 24-25 January.
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A book that calls for action, emphasizing the urgency of putting children back at the centre of our communities, that also empowers those who do not have children, because it proposes a “widespread parenting”. From the desire to deepen and understand, the idea of this interview was born.
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