杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

As he recovers from bilateral pneumonia at Rome鈥檚 Gemelli Hospital, 杏MAP导航 Francis has sent a message to participants in a pilgrimage organized by the Italian Movement for Life.

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin read the message on the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 behalf on Saturday at Mass for the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica.

鈥淐ontinue to place your trust in women, in their capacity for welcome, generosity, and courage,鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis in his message. 鈥淲omen must be able to count on the support of the entire civil and ecclesial community.鈥�

He lamented the pressure that contemporary society places on women with its focus on 鈥減ossession, action, production, and appearance.鈥�

The Church, added the 杏MAP导航, seeks to counter society鈥檚 message by promoting the dignity of the human person and prioritizing those who are weakest in the world鈥檚 eyes.

鈥淭he unborn child represents, in the fullest sense, every man and woman who does not count, who has no voice,鈥� he said. 鈥淭aking their side means standing in solidarity with all the discarded of the world.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis called on Christians to foster a 鈥渃ivilization of love,鈥� which frees women 鈥渇rom the pressures that push them not to give birth to their child鈥�.

He said it takes a 鈥済aze of the heart鈥� to recognize unborn children as 鈥渙ne of us.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 went on to praise the Italian Movement for Life, which was set up in 1975 and runs several centers that assist women with difficult pregnancies or who are under pressure to seek an abortion.

Their work, he said, promotes a culture of life 鈥渨ith frankness, love, and tenacity, closely uniting truth with charity toward all.鈥�

As the movement celebrates its 50th anniversary, 杏MAP导航 Francis urged all those who seek to promote life to 鈥渁dvance the social protection of motherhood and the acceptance of human life in all its stages.鈥�

鈥淚n this half-century, while some ideological prejudices have diminished and young people鈥檚 sensitivity toward caring for creation has grown,鈥� he said, 鈥渢he throwaway culture has unfortunately spread.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 called on everyone to dedicate themselves to the service of human life, especially when it is most fragile and vulnerable.

鈥淸Life] is sacred, created by God for a great and beautiful destiny,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 just society is not built by eliminating unwanted unborn children, elderly people who are no longer self-sufficient, or terminally ill patients.鈥�

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis prayed that the Blessed Virgin Mary may watch over those who promote human life, and he asked them to continue to pray for him and his health.