Marriage important event for society, pope tells Spain's royal family

Published: 2004-06-28

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Marriage, by marking the birth of a new family, is an important event for the new couple and society, Pope John Paul II said. The sacrament of marriage is "a great event" for the new couple as their "mutual love is enriched and strengthened with divine grace," the pope said June 28 in an address to Crown Prince Felipe of Spain and his new wife, Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano. Marriage also is important for the newlyweds' relatives and for society "since living together faithfully and forever brings new experiences and promises of life," he said. The prince and princess of Asturias were married May 22 in Madrid in a traditional Catholic ceremony presided over by the city's archbishop, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela. The pope told the new couple he was pleased to receive them so soon after their wedding. He thanked them for "wishing to visit me at the start of your married life."

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