Life

Archbishop Eamon Martin welcomes publication of Amoris Laetitia

Archbishop Eamon Martin with Helena, Cathal, Meave and Tess at the launch of Amoris Laetitia.
Archbishop Eamon Martin with Helena, Cathal, Meave and Tess at the launch of Amoris Laetitia. Archbishop Eamon Martin with Helena, Cathal, Meave and Tess at the launch of Amoris Laetitia.

Archbishop Eamon Martin has welcomed the publication of Pope Francis' new Apostolic Exhortation - Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love: On Love in the Family).

The document, launched in Rome, reflects on the role of marriage and the family in the life of the Catholic Church around the world.

Archbishop Martin said it had a warm, distinctive and familiar style that speaks to the reality of ordinary life.

"It is very much in tune with the concrete realities of everyday life as lived by married couples and families. The document reflects the vision of Pope Francis in that we cannot resort to doctrine without considering the complexities of married life. The content is also challenging, and includes a call for all of us to reflect on how we live our lives," he said.

"The Church is now asked to go out and bring the gospel to where people are at in their lives, this is in line with Pope Francis' agenda which encourages every Catholic to be a missionary for the faith.

"As a Church we are used to inviting people to come to us, but from today Pope Francis urges us to reach out and offer support, at a local level, for those preparing for marriage and for those on the journey of married life."

Archbishop Martin added that Pope Francis had offered a continuity when, in his first Apostolic Exhortation of 2013, he invited the faithful of the universal church to embrace "the Joy of the Gospel".

"The Holy Father calls on us to open our hearts to the `Joy of Love in the Family'. More than ever the good news of the family needs to be heard today, notwithstanding the message of the Church sometimes being countercultural in our contemporary world.

"I encourage everyone - especially those preparing for marriage and those already married - to read this document from Pope Francis which is compassionate in tone and accessible to all."

:: The Apostolic Exhortation is expected to be available from all nine Veritas stores and on www.veritas.ie from April 18.