The Holy Father, Pope Paul II, and many important Church leaders around the world gladly accepted the invitations of the Schoenstatt Family to participate in the Centennial festivities. They all spoke favorably about the Founder of Schoenstatt and his mission for the Church. They encouraged the Schoenstatt Family to: "Love the tasks that have been entrusted by the Founder; and love the Church in imitation of the great example of the Founder whose life was singularly characterized by the words, 'He loved the Church.'