Vatican Radio reports that Pope
Francis on Friday reiterated human life is sacred and inviolable during a
meeting with Italy’s Pro-Life Movement (Movimento per la Vita), adding every
civil right is based on the “first and most fundamental right,” the right to
life: which is not subordinate to any condition, neither qualitative, nor
economic, much less ideological.
The Holy Father said one of the most
serious risks of the present age is the divorce between economics and morality,
so that as the market gives us every technical innovation, it neglects more and
more elementary ethical standards.
“It is must be therefore reiterated
the strongest opposition to any direct attack on life, especially innocent and
defenseless life, and the unborn child in the womb is the most concrete example
of innocence,” said Pope Francis. “Let us remember the words of the Second
Vatican Council: From the moment of its conception, life must be guarded with
the greatest care while abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes.” (
Gaudium et Spes, 51).
Pope Francis said for a Christian, it
is a part of the witness of the Gospel to protect life with courage and love in
all its stages.
“I encourage you to always act with a
style of nearness, of closeness: that every woman feels regarded as a person
who is heard, accepted, and accompanied,” he said.
Pope Francis also showed gratitude for two specific
activities of the Pro-Life Movement: The “Gemma Project”, which works with
woman facing crisis pregnancies; and the “One of Us” Campaign, which is a
European Union Citizens’ Initiative requesting the prohibition of EU financing
of activities which involve the destruction of human embryos, especially in the
areas of research, development cooperation and public health.
