Photos: Thousands take part in Italy’s pro-life march

 

Thousands of people from across Italy braved the summer heat to join the national Demonstration for Life in Rome on the afternoon of June 22. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez

Rome, Italy, Jun 22, 2024 / 16:35 pm (CNA).

Thousands of people from across Italy braved the summer heat to join the national Demonstration for Life in Rome on the afternoon of June 22.

“Let’s Choose Life” was the motto of the annual procession, which began at 2 p.m. in Rome’s Piazza della Repubblica, close to the city’s main Termini train station.

"Life begins at conception" reads a sign at Rome's pro-life march June 22, 2024. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez
“Life begins at conception” reads a sign at Rome’s pro-life march June 22, 2024. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez

The slow march continued almost one mile down the Via Nazionale before reaching the area of the ancient Imperial Forum, where a rally with speeches and musical performances was held.

“There is no compromise on human life!” Pope Francis said in a message sent to organizers ahead of the march.

He thanked participants for their “commitment and public witness in defense of human life from conception to natural death,” and urged them to “go forward with courage despite every adversity.”

“The stakes, namely the absolute dignity of human life, the gift of God the Creator, are too high to be the object of compromise or mediation,” Francis wrote.

The march for life makes its way through Rome's city streets. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez
The march for life makes its way through Rome’s city streets. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez

The pope also invited families to bear witness to “the beauty of life and of the family that welcomes it,” in order to build “a society that rejects the culture of waste at every stage of existence: from the most fragile unborn child to the suffering elderly, passing through the victims of trafficking, slavery and every war.”

Rome's pro-life march drew people from all across Italy. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez
Rome’s pro-life march drew people from all across Italy. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez

Massimo Gandolfini, one of the spokespersons for the annual protest against abortion, said earlier this year that the organization is calling on Italy’s political leaders to create “structural public reforms to encourage the marriage of young couples, incentivize the birth rate and support parenting by mothers and fathers by reshaping taxation and social services to be family-friendly.”

Priests and religious were among the marchers. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez
Priests and religious were among the marchers. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez

The march arrives at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and of the Martyrs in Rome. Credit: The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and of the Martyrs
The march arrives at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and of the Martyrs in Rome. Credit: The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and of the Martyrs

Many young families joined the march for life in Rome. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez
Many young families joined the march for life in Rome. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez

If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.


About Catholic News Agency 12517 Articles
Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com)

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

All comments posted at Catholic World Report are moderated. While vigorous debate is welcome and encouraged, please note that in the interest of maintaining a civilized and helpful level of discussion, comments containing obscene language or personal attacks—or those that are deemed by the editors to be needlessly combative or inflammatory—will not be published. Thank you.


*