(Vatican Radio) 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.