The president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, gave a speech on the 1st December at the UCAM during the conference 'The Family in the center of human development' in which he spoke about the importance of this core institution in today's society.

The archbishop said during his speech that historically, the institutions of our society have not given sufficient support to the family, and today's trend of individualism "destroys every human relationship". 

Archbishop Paglia, was accompanied by the President of the UCAM, José Luis Mendoza, -Consultant of the Pontifical Council for the Family-, who said that "at this University, in accordance to our Catholic identity, we defend the family as established by God. We foster a culture of life, and see marriage as a source of hope for society".

Archbishop Paglia, Responsible for Family Affairs at the Vatican, said that "development, as we know it is based on one thing: the family" and he added that "this is a unique institution which helps to create a solid partnership. Nothing else can keep people united like a family does".

The president of the Pontifical Council for the Family also added that "the Pope asks us all to participate in defending life".

He made a strong defense of the definition of marriage as the union of a man and a woman "forever" versus "what contemporary culture teaches us which is a concept of marriage that is transitionary and not indissoluble."