Sunday, November 3, 2024

Popular News

HomeNewsVaticanPope on Day for Life: Demographic winter threatens Italy's future

Pope on Day for Life: Demographic winter threatens Italy’s future

On Italy’s 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 due to the declining birth rate.

By Vatican News staff reporter

Pope Francis once again emphasized the importance of protecting life at all stages, in remarks on the 43rd Italian Day for Life.

The commemoration, which takes place each year on the first Sunday in February, was begun by the Italian Bishops in 1978, and aims at promoting welcoming life, especially the life in the womb. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Freedom in life.”

Speaking after the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis said, “I join the Italian bishops in recalling that freedom is the great gift God has given us to seek and achieve our own good and that of others, starting with the primary good of life.” He insisted, “Our society must be helped to be cured of all attacks on life, so that it may be protected at every stage.”

Italy’s future in peril

Pope Francis also voiced his particular concern for the “Italian demographic winter.”

“In Italy, [the number of] births have declined, and the future is in danger,” he warned. He called on Italians “to take this concern and try to ensure that this demographic winter might come to an end, and a new springtime of baby boys and girls might flourish.”

Popular News

Holy See warns against outer space arms buildup

The Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia,...

Pope sends message to those affected by floods in Spain

More than 140 people have been killed and thousands are displaced following one of...

Cardinal Fernández: Let us work to give women more space and power

During the afternoon Synod meeting on 24 October with members of the 'Group 5'...

Pope: Fr. Gustavo Gutiérrez was ‘a great man of the Church’

Pope Francis recalls the life and work of Fr. Gustavo Gutierrez, the late founder...