杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

Italy鈥檚 Pro-Life Movement is a network that helps women with crisis pregnancy counseling and adoption services.

杏MAP导航 Francis addressed the Movement鈥檚 Board of Directors on Saturday, ahead of the 41^st National Day for Life, which is celebrated on 3 February under the theme: 鈥淚t鈥檚 life; it鈥檚 the future鈥�.

鈥淎head of tomorrow鈥檚 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鈥�.

A newborn child, said the 杏MAP导航, brings 鈥渘ewness, future, and life鈥� to society.

鈥淰oluntarily 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,鈥� he said.

Abortion undermines justice

杏MAP导航 Francis thanked Italy鈥檚 Pro-Life Movement for defending the lives of the unborn. He said they bear witness through their work that 鈥渢hose who have been conceived are children of the whole of society鈥�.

鈥淭heir 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,鈥� he said.

Every stage of life

杏MAP导航 Francis said protecting life is not a one-off action but means protecting every aspect of a person鈥檚 life.

鈥淭aking care of life鈥�, he said, 鈥渞equires 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.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 said every person should be involved in defending life at every level of society, carried out 鈥渋n a multiplicity of actions, attentions, and initiatives鈥�.

Gift from God

Life, said the Holy Father, is a gift from God for which we cannot take sole credit.

鈥淲hen 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鈥�.

But, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, Italy鈥檚 Pro-Life Movement draws on the Catholic faith and Church teachings to contrast these tendencies. 鈥淢ay the Day for Life bring a breath of fresh air and help all to work generously鈥� to promote life.

鈥淲here there is life, there is hope!鈥� the 杏MAP导航 declared.