“Only starting from love can the family manifest, spread and regenerate God’s love in the world. Without love, we cannot live as children of God, as couples, parents and brothers”. Pope Francis wrote this in the letter he sent today to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, in preparation for the 9th World Meeting of Families that will take place in Dublin, Ireland, from 21 to 26 August 2018 on the theme: “The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World”. “One might ask: does the Gospel continue to be a joy for the world? And also: does the family continue to be good news for today’s world?” – these are the questions with which Pope Francis begins his letter. “I am sure the answer is yes!”, he answered. “And this ‘yes’ is firmly based on God’s plan”. “The love of God – the Pope said – is His ‘yes’ to all creation and at the heart of this latter is man. It is God’s ‘yes’ to the union between man and woman, in openness and service to life in all its phases; it is God’s ‘yes’ and His commitment to a humanity that is often wounded, mistreated and dominated by a lack of love”. The family, in Pope Francis’ words, is “the ‘yes’ of God as Love”.