From the beginning of its existence, Priests for Life has had close contact with the Pontifical Council for the Family. From 1997-1999, Fr. Frank Pavone served in Rome as an official of the Council.

What is this Council and what are its duties?

The overall mission of the Catholic Church throughout the world is coordinated by a number of Congregations and Councils in the Vatican, each of which is assigned certain areas of responsibility. Assistance is thereby given to the Holy Father in his role as the Universal Pastor of the Church. There is, for example, a Congregation that oversees anything pertaining to the administration of the Sacraments, another that oversees Catholic education, and so forth.

The activity of the Church for the defense of human life and for the pastoral care of the family falls under the responsibility of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

Pope John Paul II created this council on May 9, 1981. During the previous year, a special assembly of bishops in Rome had discussed the role of the Christian family in the modern world.

The Council collaborates with the other departments in the Vatican and with bishops throughout the world. It follows the activities of pro-life and pro-family organizations throughout the world and assists them with the help of the staff based in Rome as well as members and consultors throughout the world, including married couples.

The specific focus of Priests for Life, namely, the defense of human life from abortion and euthanasia, is one of the areas on which the Council for the Family focuses. Other areas that the Council oversees include contraception, sex education, the rights, theology, and spirituality of the family, and marriage preparation. Part of the educational efforts of the Council includes publication of its journal Familia et Vita.

Following are some of the many documents published by the Pontifical Council for the Family.

Every three years, the Pontifical Council for the Family coordinates a World gathering of Families with the Holy Father. Information regarding some of these meetings, and educational materials produced for them, follows:

Many other conferences are sponsored by the Council. In November, 2000, for example, a conference was held in Rome on "Globalization, Economy, and Family."

Priests for Life acknowledges in a special way the leadership of the President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Alfonso Cardinal Lopez Trujillo. He has been a prophetic voice in the Church for years on the dignity and rights of the human person. We look forward to his continued leadership and likewise thank him for his support of Priests for Life, on whose advisory board he has served from the beginning. We are happy to provide here the texts of some of his talks given in the United States and elsewhere.

Cardinal Trujillo's letters of endorsement of Priests for Life:

October 1, 1999

March 21, 1994

You may contact the Pontifical Council for the Family at the following address:

His Eminence Alfonso Cardinal Lopez Trujillo
Pontifical Council for the Family
Piazza San Calisto, 16
00120 Vatican City State

Fax: (39)-06-6988-7272 (When dialing from USA, start with 011)

For other information about the Pontifical Council for the Family, you may visit their page on the Vatican website.

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