Archbishop: Philly Catholics 'In Need of Healing'

By Patrick Walters
San Francisco Chronicle
February 25, 2013

http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Archbishop-Philly-Catholics-in-need-of-healing-4305767.php

Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles Chaput speaks during a news conference Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia will host a large gathering of the Roman Catholic church called the World Meeting of Families in 2015. Vatican officials say the event will be held in Philadelphia from Sept. 22 through Sept. 27 in 2015.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced Monday the city has been formally selected by the Vatican to host a large gathering of the Roman Catholic church called the World Meeting of Families in 2015, with Archbishop Charles Chaput saying the region's 1.5 million Catholics are in need of "healing and renewal."

The meeting, expected to draw hundreds of thousands from around the world, will be held from Sept. 22 through Sept. 27 in 2015. Pope Benedict XVI originally announced the selection of the city as host in June, months before his planned resignation was announced earlier this month.

The dates for the VIII World Meeting of Families were confirmed in a letter last month, Chaput said Monday. At a news conference, Chaput said he didn't know why the pope chose Philadelphia but that he was "deeply grateful."

"These events also become moments of grace," he said, adding that the region's Catholic community is "in need of healing and renewal" and that the church needs "to better protect children and young people."