Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin said the next World Meeting of Families, which takes place in Ireland in August 2018, would be about developing "concrete ideas for the renewal of marriage and family in our Irish Church and society."

Archbishop Martin, president of WMF 2018, officially launched preparations on October 22. The theme chosen by Pope Francis for the World Meeting is 'The Gospel of the Family -- Joy for the World'.

Acknowledging that there is "no such thing as the ideal family," Archbishop Martin said that did not mean "we renounce presenting an ideal, which men and women and young people can aspire to and hope to achieve."