MOSAIC Fall 2015 | Page 36

“He is so authentic, like an uncle who will love you no matter what,” Professor Smith says of the Holy Father. Papal pilgrims at the National Shrine. Welcoming the Holy Father Two Talks at World Meeting of Families Prof. Janet Smith, Fr. Michael J. Mc“Joy permeated the whole place,” Givney Chair of Life Ethics at Sacred Professor Smith says, who also was kept Heart, gave two breakout session presen- busy during WMF conducting media intations at the World Meeting of Families terviews. “After thirty years of congresses, Congress (WMF) held in Philadelphia, it is clearer than ever. If you don’t have Pennsylvania, September 22-25. An es- strong families you won’t have a strong timated 17,000 people, including entire culture. So it is not surprising that Pope families and many young people, attend- Francis has focused on families.” ed the congress. St. John Paul II began the A highlight of the World Meeting of WMF in 1994 as a way to “strengthen the Families for Professor Smith was having bonds of family across the globe.” dinner with David Daleiden of The Center Professor Smith’s first presentation for Medical Progress. Mr. Daleiden was “Loving the Elderly.” She shared the produced the videos that exposed struggles of caring for a mother afflicted the baby-parts scandal of Planned with dementia. “It has been one of the Parenthood. Professor Smith calls him hardest—and most wonderful things— “an extraordinary person” for remaining I have ever done,” she says in a recent so steadfast despite media attacks and phone interview, believing the ordeal lawsuits filed by Planned Parenthood. She has helped her to grow in the virtues, is one of Mr. Deleiden’s consultants on such as patience. moral issues. In her second presentation, “The ProPope Francis included a visit to Philaphetic Character of Humanae Vitae,” delphia to end his Apostolic Journey she defended Pope Paul VI’s prediction: to the United States. The visit allowed that widespread use of