On the Italian Day for Life (Giornata per la Vita), Pope Francis calls for society to be helped to heal from all attacks on life and warns that Italy’s future is at stake because of the declining birth rate.
By Vatican News staff reporter
Pope Francis stressed once again the importance of protecting life at all stages, in his remarks on the 43rd Italian Day for Life.
The commemoration, which takes place every year on the first Sunday in February, was started by Italian bishops in 1978 and aims to promote welcoming life, especially life in the womb. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Freedom in life”.
Speaking on Sunday after Angelus, Pope Francis said: “I join the Italian bishops in remembering that freedom is the great gift that God has given us to seek and achieve our own good and the good of others, beginning with the primordial good of life.” He insisted: “Our society must be helped to heal from all attacks on life so that it can be protected at every stage.”
Italy’s future in danger
Pope Francis also expressed special concern for the “Italian demographic winter”.
“In Italy, [the number of] births have dropped and the future is in jeopardy, ”he warned. He urged Italians “to take this concern and try to ensure that this demographic winter could come to an end and a new spring for boys and girls could flourish.”