Pope Benedict XVI will be celebrating a special Vespers service Saturday evening in
St. Peter’s Basilica marking the beginning of Advent, in which he has called for special
prayers for the protection of all human life, especially the unborn. The Holy Father
has asked that parishes, religious communities, associations and movements join
him for evening prayer, in churches throughout the world. “It’s the first time
in history the Holy Father has done this,” says Joseph Meaney, the director of international
coordination for Human Life International. “It’s a wonderful time to do it,” he
told Vatican Radio. It’s “the beginning of Advent, when we are thinking about the
unborn Christ Child, waiting for the birth of the Christ Child – to think of all these
unborn children that are also at risk around the world, because unfortunately something
like a third of all pregnancies end in abortion today.” Listen to Joseph Meaney's
full interview with Charles Collins: