Contact: Dick and Diane Baumbach, 321-544-3440; Tom and Katie Watson, 303-503-9756; Worldwide Marriage Encounter

ROME, Italy, Feb. 14 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pope Benedict XVI speaking here recently at an audience with Worldwide Marriage Encounter leaders from across the world made strong comments in support of the movement.

"Marriage Encounter, yes! You are doing such important work in our church, especially in this world we live in," Pope Benedict said as he spoke with David & Bronny Lea and Fr. John Rate, Worldwide Marriage Encounter International Coordinating Team.

The pope went on to say, "I will pray for you and your movement."

Tony & Cathy Witczak and Fr. Emile Frische, MHM, United States Secretariat Team, also attended the audience. "It was truly exciting to be part of Pope Benedict's audience with our WWME leadership from across the world. His words will serve us as an inspiration as we help lead the movement in the United States," the ecclesial team said.

Coordinating couples and priests from all over the world came together in Rome for the World Council meeting of WWME in January 2008. The meeting is held annually at various locations across the globe.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends start on a Friday evening and end on Sunday afternoon. Participants hear presentations by a couple and a priest and later write their thoughts and feelings to share in the privacy of their room. There is no group discussion. Weekends are held in various locations, including hotels and retreat centers.

There is a cost for the weekend, but in the 40 year history of Worldwide Marriage Encounter, no couple has ever been turned away from attending a weekend because of lack of money.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a non-profit organization and all donations from the weekend are used to continue offering additional weekends throughout the country and the world.

Married couples who want to learn more about making their "good marriages, better" can find Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends that are presented all over the United States.

To learn more about the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends you can call
1-800-795-LOVE or go online to www.wwme.org or call the national office at (909) 863-9963.