Vatican Summit on Marriage Concludes

The historic summit that brought together a diverse group of global faith leaders concluded Wednesday.

Pope Francis set the tone in his opening remarks at the three-day conference by underscoring the importance of strengthening marriage and families.

“I pray that your colloquium will be an inspiration to all who seek to support and strengthen the union of man and woman in marriage as a unique, natural, fundamental and beautiful good for persons, communities and whole societies," he said.

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was among the faith leaders who addressed over 300 religious leaders and scholars from around the world who were gathered at the colloquium.

President Eyring delivered touching remarks about his own marriage and called for a “renaissance of successful marriages and family life.” He listed the pillars of a successful marriage and family and gave reference to the Church’s 1995 document “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”

“Marriage is ordained of God. And if you love God, then when you even talk about it you feel emotion, just the thought of what it means to be married,” said President Eyring in an interview following his address.

Dr. Ryan Anderson, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, commented on President Eyring's message, stating "A lot of people talked about the philosophy, or the social science or the data. [He] was talking about the lived experience. That is what I want to be able to say when I am his age." He continued, "It was so deeply moving to see a man of his position and his deep faith reflecting on a half-century of marriage and fidelity. The emotion with which he talked about his wife and how his wife had changed him for the better was tremendously moving."

Pastor Rick Warren, another speaker at the conference shared his feelings about President Eyring's address, "The most powerful way to say something is the most personal way to say it. His whole talk was a witness and a testimony, and that was powerful.”

At the close of the week's event, Rev. Russell D. Moore, President of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission stated, "I think it was an encouraging conference. A group of us who have differences on all sorts of things are united on what the family is and that marriage matters, so I am very encouraged. Old friendships renewed and new friendships forged. I think we see the beginning of a very healthy movement."

See all coverage of the summit at the Vatican.

Other News Media Resources:

Downloadable SOT #1: Clip from interview with Dr. Jacqueline Rivers

Downloadable SOT #2: Clip from interview with Dr. Jacqueline Rivers

Downloadable SOT: Clip from interview with Dr. Lynn Wardle