Pope Francis tossed out his prepared speech to the meeting on families,

[pnwmom]

and gave his own inspiring, spontaneous speech.

He spent a lot of time talking about love, and nowhere in the speech did he define families in a narrow way.

I hope eventually there will be a text available of what he DID say, rather than what he was supposed to say.

Here is a link to his prepared text (the one he deviated from). It also doesn't limit the definition of family.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/2015/09/26/pope-francis-speech-festival-families-parkway/72900436/

[femmocrat]

1. It was a beautiful message, but his discarded speech was quite good, too:

I think of all those families which lack access to basic health services. Families which, when faced with medical problems, especially those of their younger or older members, are dependent on a system which fails to meet their needs, is insensitive to their pain, and forces them to make great sacrifices to receive adequate treatment.

The Pope supports universal health care!

[pnwmom]

2. Yes, it is. But it does repeat some things -- like his support for universal health care --

that he has mentioned in other addresses.

Tonight he decided to give a different kind of speech. Less policy oriented -- more warmth and enthusiasm.

[femmocrat]

3. I was completely transfixed.

He had me in tears. I've been pretty weepy all week, watching him on TV. How I wish I could have been there. The experience must have been overwhelming for those in the audience.

Thanks for the link. I was very interested in the prepared speech as well.

[pnwmom]

4. I've had a similar experience. I'm in shock about how moving the week has been.

And what a wonderfully visible demonstration of how diverse the Catholic population is.

[David__77]

5. I congratuate Catholics on his visit!

I'm so glad that people are getting spiritual benefits from his visit!

[pnwmom]

6. Thank you, David.

His message is so simple, and boils down to two things we already know.

The Golden Rule, and God is love.

But he has a very powerful way of delivering the message, that makes it seem almost new.