Contact: Larry Jacobs, Manager, World Congress of Families, 815-997-7106, media@worldcongress.org

TBILISI, Georgia May 13, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is the text of the welcome message from President George W. Bush to be delivered to the delegates of the World Congress of Families X at the Opening Ceremony on May 16:

I send greetings to those gathered for the World Congress of Families X in Tbilisi, Georgia.   

As the first sitting U.S. President to visit Georgia, I was honored and humbled by the appreciation and enthusiasm  expressed to me by the Georgian people gathered in Tbilisi's Freedom Square in 2005.  I repeat the words that I spoke to them then, 'Georgia is a beacon of liberty for this region and the world.  The path of freedom you have chosen is not easy, but you will not travel it alone ... the American people will stand with you.'

Around the world, families provide that beacon of freedom and the source of help, hope, and stability for individuals and nations.  As one of the pillars of civilization and the bulwark of liberty, families must remain strong and we must defend them.  To ensure that future generations are prepared to face new opportunities and challenges, as President, I took steps to promote strong families, preserve the sanctity of marriage and protect the well-being of children.  Laura and I have always believed in encouraging adoption and supporting the crisis pregnancy center programs to help us continue to build a culture of life.
 
I commend your efforts to recognize the importance of families in building nations.  Your work improves many lives and makes the world better.
 
Laura joins me in sending our best wishes.

The former U.S. President will be also honored with the "FAMLIA ET CIVITAS" (Family and Democracy) Award for his pro-life work to build a culture of life.  The theme of the Tenth Jubilee, World Congress of Families X is "Civilization at The Crossroads: The Natural Family as the Bulwark of Freedom and Human Values."

World Congress of Families unites leaders worldwide in defense of family, faith, and freedom by: (1) Affirming the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, (2) Promoting the natural family as the fundamental and only sustainable unit of society and (3) Defending the dignity and sanctity of every human life from conception to natural death.

This award comes more than a decade after Georgians celebrated and honored President Bush, by naming the road to the Tbilisi international airport "George W. Bush" Highway in recognition of the former President.

President Bush has greeted previous World Congress of Families events, including the World Congress of Families III held in Mexico City in 2004 which was also addressed by Mexican First Lady, Mrs. Martha Fox. 

President Bush commended the efforts of the World Congress to "recognize the importance of families in our society. Around the world, families are the source of help, hope, and stability for individuals and nations. As one of the pillars of civilization, families must remain strong and we must defend them during this time of great change. Your work improves many lives and makes the world better," declared Mr. Bush.  Here is the full text of Mr. Bush's greeting from 2004 at World Congress of Families III in Mexico City, worldcongress.ge/george-w-bush.pdf.

President Bush is the first sitting U.S. President to visit Georgia and his visit in 2005 to Tbilisi's Freedom Square was enthusiastically received by the Georgian people.  "Georgia is a beacon of liberty for this region and the world," Mr. Bush said. "The path of freedom you have chosen is not easy, but you will not travel it alone ... the American people will stand with you."

A local Georgian official commented on the President, "As Georgians, we have a special connection to President Bush as he was the first U.S. President to visit our great homeland, one of the oldest Christian nations on earth.  Mr. Bush won a place in our hearts as he danced to Georgian music and declared our nation to be a beacon of liberty and freedom for the world.  He gave us hope that we could maintain our Georgian traditions of family, faith, and freedom while partnering with America and the West."

WCF Tbilisi 2016 will be the first World Congress of Families in the Eurasian and Caucasus region (on the Old Silk Road to China) and the first in an Orthodox Christian country.  WCF X conferences and concerts will be held in multiple venues in Tbilisi including the opening ceremony in Tbilisi's State Philharmonic Concert Hall, the Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel, and the closing ceremony in the historic Rustaveli National Theatre in Tbilisi.  WCF X will be broadcast on Georgian TV stations and various international channels to more than 250 million viewers.

Previous Congresses have been held in Prague (1997), Geneva (1999), Mexico City (2004), Warsaw (2007), Amsterdam (2009), Madrid (2012), Sydney (2013) and Salt Lake City (2015).   The Tenth Jubilee, World Congress of Families X – Civilization at The Crossroads: The Natural Family as the Bulwark of Freedom and Human Values - will take place in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia (May 15-18, 2016).  This is the premier gathering of the world's largest network of pro-family leaders, parents, youth, lawmakers, scholars, religious leaders, and advocates united to support the natural family.  WCF X is uniting global leaders to defend family and faith and to developing a pro-family agenda for Europe and the World. 

To register and reserve your tickets for World Congress of Families X go to:
www.eventbrite.com/e/world-congress-of-families-x-tbilisi-republic-of-georgia-may-15-18-2016-tickets-22669828066?aff=es2. 

Free press pass registrations are available for news media and reporters at:
www.eventbrite.com/e/world-congress-of-families-x-tbilisi-republic-of-georgia-may-15-18-2016-tickets-22669828066?aff=es2.

Free Student/Emerging Leader Registrations also available at:
www.eventbrite.com/e/world-congress-of-families-x-tbilisi-republic-of-georgia-may-15-18-2016-tickets-22669828066?aff=es2.

For more information on World Congress of Families X, visit the Congress websites: www.worldcongress.ge and www.worldcongress.org.