There's lots of buzz about the pope visiting the United States, but he's not here as a tourist.

"The World Meeting of Families is the primary reason for the pope's visit," stressed the Rev. William Campion at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Palmerton. "I hope people don't miss that."Pope Francis made plans to visit Washington, D.C., and New York City, but that came much later than his plans for coming to Philadelphia."The representative of Jesus Christ, the Vicar of Rome, our father, wants to visit our families," Campion said. "He wants to be here with the family of the church."In an address before the World Meeting of Families, Pope Francis said, "I'll be there, because you'll be there."The motto of the conference is "Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.""The father of our church family wants to emphasize the importance of our families," Campion said."He truly knows the Lord," said the Rev. Michael Ahrensfield, the pastor at SS. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Lehighton. "He lives the Gospel."Ahrensfield said he thinks Pope Francis understands the poor, the needy and the broken-hearted, because he has lived among them in Latin America."We are all God's children," Ahrensfield said.Families face a variety of difficulties. Money and in-laws aren't the only thing couples fight about today.People are busy. Finding time to be together can be a strain, but then there are also the strains associated with being a blended family. How do you work out the issues of step-siblings and being a step-parent?Likewise, interfaith and interracial marriages can have stresses unique to their situations. And there are issues such as infertility and choosing to adopt."The church will only be as strong as the family," Campion said. "We need to build up the family."Helping families build stronger connections to each other and spiritually to God is what the World Meeting of Families is all about.According to the event's website, planners expect more than 17,000 people from about 150 countries to attend the talks. More than 60 speakers are scheduled to talk on everything from dating, marriage or religious vocations to balancing busy lives, divorce and the elderly - and just about everything in between. The conference also will explore tough issues, such as the impact of addictions, domestic violence, homosexuality in the family, disabilities, infertility and living a celibate life.Even the speakers come from myriad of backgrounds. There will be experts in their fields on social family issues, bishops, cardinals, professors, non-Catholics and the daughter of a canonized saint.Gianna Emanuela Molla, daughter of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, will speak on the heartbreak of infertility. Her mother died a few days after her birth and was canonized by St. Pope John Paul II."There are not many living people whose mom was a (canonized) saint," Campion said.Theologian and author Scott Hahn is discussing "Back to the Garden of Eden: Unearthing God's Covenant with Humankind."Campion said he anticipates that Pope Francis will attend future World Meeting of Families conferences wherever they are in the world. The conferences are held every few years, similar to the World Youth Day. Just as St. Pope John Paul II regarded the youth as the church and its future, Campion believes Pope Frances regards the family."So, too, with the family, they are the church," Campion said.