Pope Benedict XVI has sent a telegram to the participants of the 301st
Pilgrimage Walk from Warsaw to the Shrine of Jasna Gora (Czestochowa), on the occasion
of the 25th anniversary of the pro-life initiative entitled " Spiritual Adoption of
the Unborn Child."
It is a 9-month prayer initiative with the intention of
protecting unborn life threatened in the womb.
In his message, the Holy Father
expressed his appreciation to the people involved in this apostolate, who, with deep
faith, promote the Gospel values of life and love to counter the threats of abortion,
euthanasia, promiscuity and the problems which affect family life.
Benedict
XVI hopes, too, that this initiative can profoundly touch the hearts of men to grow
spiritually and give support to children whose lives are threatened, to couples who
are having difficulty accepting a new life and to families tested by abortion.
The
"Spiritual Adoption of the Unborn Child " came about in 1987 in Warsaw, to a group
linked to the pastoral pilgrimages to Jasna Gora. The initiative later spread throughout
Poland, and then to other countries.