Archbishop says the work has just begun now that family conference is over

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 Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

The World Meeting of Families and papal visit are over, but the head of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia says its effects will hopefully be felt for a long time.

Archbishop Charles Chaput says the events are over, but work building the family is far from complete. 

“I know that it wouldn’t have been worth all the energy and resources that we put into this if people don’t respond in their homes and their own lives with a deeper commitment to the family,” Chaput said.

Bishop Jean Lafite, secretary of Pontifical Council for the Family, says Philadelphia fulfilled the week’s mission.

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“My personal prayer was that this meeting could be a spiritual event for people coming here for the families but also for us and I think that was the goal and I think it was reached,” Lafite said.

The world meeting set a new attendance record and SEPTA set its own, moving 40 thousand passengers on the Broad Street line and another 34,000 on regional rail on Sunday.

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