Resolution “The family as source of hope: Lighthouses of Hope : Christian virtues as a way of life”

Brussels, 8th of may 2026

In the current context of wars, demographic crisis, pandemic of loneliness, socially destructive impacts of ineffectively regulated and inadequately used digital development and the growing consumerism, FAFCE reminds that families are lighthouses of hope that bring light in difficult times, by being a real community, a source of fruitfulness and stability, social awareness, social networking and above all selflessness, peace and joy.

Recalling the FAFCE Board Resolution of 2021 on “The Family is the Democratic and Demographic Future of Europe”, stating that “intergenerational solidarity and solidarity between families are the first examples from which political stakeholders can learn”;

Recalling the FAFCE Press Release “Call for peace in Ukraine”, expressing FAFCE’s “full solidarity with all the families” affected by the war;

Recalling the FAFCE Board Resolution of May 2022, affirming that families and family associations are builders of peace;

Recalling the FAFCE Board Resolution of 2023 on “The crisis of loneliness in times of digital transition: family networks as agents of change”

Recognising that the family is the fundament of society  and the first place where real community life, trust, solidarity, and reconciliation are learned;

Emphasising that peace begins in the family, where hope is rooted in love, friendship, trust in others, and attentiveness to one’s neighbour;

Recalling the address of Pope Leo XIV on June 1, 2025, during the Jubilee of Families in St. Peter’s Square, that families are the cradle of the future of the peoples and that “in the family, faith is handed on together with life, generation after generation. It is shared like food at the family table and like the love in our hearts”; 

Therefore the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe:

  1. States that the family is the primary source of peace and acts as natural bridge-builders within and between societies. Through daily life, they they raise persons to be capable of dialogue, solidarity, reconciliation and furthermore, forgiveness;
  2. urges decision makers to actively promote the family as a fundamental building block of any society, and calls on them to fight against all forms of discrimination targeting the family or its members especially children 
  3. Calls on decision makers to promote civil society and family associations to continue fostering solidarity between families, strengthening their capacity to act as creators of peace in divided societies, creating so called families diplomacy ;
  4. Calls to recognise the contribution of families to the Common good and to support the development of family associations, as families are stronger together and stronger communities build stronger societies
  5. Reminds that without families there are no future generations and that without intergenerational solidarity there is no sustainable development.  Without children the social security systems, pension insure, health insure and long time care cannot be financed. Therefore families are the hope of our societies;.
  6. Brings attention that families are essential for developing emotional regulation, resilience, and mental health and therefore calls to recognise families as the irreplaceable source and assurance of resilient societies;
  7. Highlights that as strong and stable families are the remedy to the growing anxiety of current societies, conditions in which parents can be present for their children must be ensured;
  8. Calls to recognise the role of families in bringing hope by focusing on friendship, trust in the other, compassion for the vulnerable, attentiveness to the call of our neighbour rather than following the expectations of the growing consumerism and individualism;
  9. Reminds that family networks are the antidote to loneliness, the disease of modern times;
  10. Reminds the role of families in passing on faith, recalling that as a society, we can only pass on Christian social virtues to future generations through a positive attitude towards the family; 
  11. Calls to recognise the role of family associations and civil society, particularly catholic inspired organisations, in contributing to the transmission of virtues, fostering solidarity, and charitable engagement, which support social cohesion and the Common good. 

Family is the example of unity and dialogue  and for Christians beyond reconciliation there is also forgiveness. Strong families make strong communities and they are the best asset to ensure resilient societies that find solutions for upcoming challenges with hope and trust, sense of responsibility and spirit of service. For Christians, there can be no limit to hope. Rooted in this hope, families are called to build peace, strengthen solidarity, and contribute to a more humane and united Europe.