By Sarah Mac Donald - 24 July, 2014
Pope Francis has urged Catholics in Ireland and the UK to work “to ensure adequate legal protection for the fundamental human right to life”.
In a special message for the annual ‘Day for Life’, the Pope has invited Catholics “to bring the merciful love of Christ as a life-giving balm to those troubling new forms of poverty and vulnerability” increasingly evident in contemporary society.
The Day for Life is held in parishes in England and Wales on 27 July but takes place in the Irish Church on 5 October.
Over half-a-million postcards have been sent to parishes in Britain in preparation for Sunday.
The theme of this year’s ‘Day for Life’ is #livelife – Protect and Cherish Life from its beginning to its natural end.
The Pope has invited young people in particular to get involved in caring for, nurturing and protecting life at every stage and in every condition.
In a message issued by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pontiff expressed “his confidence that this annual witness to the sanctity of God’s gift of life will inspire the faithful, and young Catholics in particular, to combat the culture of death, not only by working to ensure adequate legal protection for the fundamental human right to life.”
To all involved in the ‘Day for Life’ celebrations, the Pope has imparted his Apostolic Blessing “as a pledge of wisdom, joy and peace in the Risen Lord.”
