Here's what you need to know about the World Meeting of Families in Ireland --Aleteia

The event is already setting records and is gearing up to be a momentous occasion for Catholic families around the world.

In 1994, Pope John Paul II asked the Pontifical Council for the Family to organize an international event that focused on strengthening the family through prayer, catechesis and celebration. It was initiated during the “Year of the Family” and originally hosted in Rome.

Since the first meeting in 1994 the event has grown considerably, coordinated every 3 years in various locations such as Rio de Janeiro, Manila, Mexico City and Philadelphia. This is the first time the international event has been hosted in Ireland, and it is already setting records.

Over six weeks in advance, all papal events are booked up. In particular, there was a strong demand for tickets to the Papal Mass at Phoenix Park, with 400,000 tickets reserved in the first 48 hours that ticketing was available. Currently all 500,000 tickets have been reserved.

According to organizers, “116 countries are represented in bookings for the Mass in Phoenix Park,” with “approximately 46% of those planning to attend the Final Mass [giving] an address in Dublin.”

Furthermore, all 37,000 tickets for the World Meeting of Families events in Dublin have been booked, highlighting a strong interest in the international meeting of families. What’s even more interesting is that over half of the registrants are parents with children under 18 years of age. It will truly be a large meeting of young families from all over the world.

For those of you who are unable to attend the events in Dublin, Aleteia will be offering unique coverage of the events, featuring daily reports and videos to give you a real sense of being there. For the next few weeks, we will be highlighting various aspects of the momentous occasion, emphasizing the positive impact this event hopes to have on family life.

In the mean time, here are a few basic facts about the World Meeting of Families to help prepare you for the historic event.

Here’s what you need to know about the World Meeting of Families in Ireland