Pope to Pro-Life Movement:
‘Politicians should place defense of life first'
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| Pope Francis meets with Italy's Pro-Life Movement (Vatican Media) |
Pope Francis appeals to politicians to defend the lives of
unborn babies as the cornerstone of promoting the common good, in remarks to
Italy’s Pro-Life Movement on Saturday.
By Devin Watkins
Italy’s Pro-Life Movement is a network that helps women with
crisis pregnancy counseling and adoption services.
Pope Francis addressed the Movement’s Board of Directors on
Saturday, ahead of the 41stNational Day for Life, which is
celebrated on 3 February under the theme: “It’s life; it’s the future”.
“Ahead of tomorrow’s Day for Life, I take this opportunity
to appeal to all politicians, regardless of their faith convictions, to treat
the defense of the lives of those who are about to be born and enter into
society as the cornerstone of the common good”.
A newborn child, said the Pope, brings “newness, future, and
life” to society.
“Voluntarily extinguishing life in its blossoming is, in
every case, a betrayal of our vocation, as well as of the pact that binds
generations together, which allows us to look forward with hope,” he said.
Abortion undermines justice
Pope Francis thanked Italy’s Pro-Life Movement for defending
the lives of the unborn. He said they bear witness through their work that
“those who have been conceived are children of the whole of society”.
“Their killing in huge numbers, with the endorsement of
States, is a serious problem that undermines the foundations of the
construction of justice, compromising the proper solution of any other human
and social issue,” he said.
Every stage of life
Pope Francis said protecting life is not a one-off action
but means protecting every aspect of a person’s life.
“Taking care of life”, he said, “requires that attention be
paid to living conditions: health, education, and job opportunities. In short,
it includes everything that allows a person to live in dignity.”
The Pope said every person should be involved in defending
life at every level of society, carried out “in a multiplicity of actions,
attentions, and initiatives”.
Gift from God
Life, said the Holy Father, is a gift from God for which we
cannot take sole credit.
“When life itself is violated at its emergence, what remains
is no longer the grateful and enchanted welcome of a gift, but a cold
calculation of what we have and what we can use. Then even life is reduced to a
one-time-use consumer good”.
But, Pope Francis said, Italy’s Pro-Life Movement draws on
the Catholic faith and Church teachings to contrast these tendencies. “May the
Day for Life bring a breath of fresh air and help all to work generously” to
promote life.
“Where there is life, there is hope!” the Pope declared.
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