In his reflection Card. Antonelli said that the “family is a universal phenomenon in the history of mankind”. Apart from accidental variations “it has a permanent structure, based on a relationship between the two sexes, man and woman, and the relationship between two generations: parents-children”. Today too, statistics show that “a family consisting of a couple in a stable relationship with children holds the first place in the aspirations of people, followed by work”. An authentic family “involves the total gift of the spouses to each other, and their self-giving to children through procreation, care and education”; this enables the creation of bonds which are “not only affective, but also ethical”. Card. Antonelli ended his speech with a hope: “The relativist, consumerist, utilitarian and individualist culture impoverished human relations and undermined trust between people; it caused the economic crisis, the crisis of work and family. Man must rediscover that he is a relational being and must care for the good quality of his relations if he wants to overcome the crisis of work and family. The crisis brings to surface a latent malaise but also opens new perspectives”.

01/06/2012 -