Pope’s Bold Stand Doubling Down on Abortion in New Year’s Day Message!

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis marked the beginning of the New Year with a renewed call to the faithful to denounce abortion, emphasizing the necessity for a “strong commitment” to safeguard and honor life from its very inception until its natural end. At the age of 88, Francis presided over a New Year’s Day Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, focusing on Mary, the mother of Jesus.

During his homily, the Pope prayed that all individuals may learn to nurture “every child born to a woman” and safeguard “the invaluable gift of life: life in the womb, the lives of children, the lives of the suffering, the impoverished, the elderly, the isolated, and the dying.” He emphasized the urgent need for a resolute dedication to uphold the dignity of human life from the moment of conception until natural death, encouraging each person to value their own life and to perceive the future with optimism.

In a departure from the initial years of his papacy, where he criticized the Church’s preoccupation with “petty rules” on contentious issues like abortion, Pope Francis now speaks out more emphatically against abortion. Referring to abortion as “hiring a hitman to resolve a problem,” he recently stirred controversy in Belgium by condemning its abortion legislation as “homicidal” and expressing his intention to beatify Belgium’s late king who temporarily abdicated rather than endorse a law permitting the procedure. The Vatican has confirmed that the beatification process for King Baudouin, who passed away in 1993, is currently underway.

The morning Mass concluded the intensive Christmas schedule of events for Pope Francis. Facing persistent respiratory challenges, this year’s festive season was particularly demanding with the commencement of the Vatican’s significant Holy Year, a once-in-a-quarter-century observance of faith anticipated to draw 32 million pilgrims to Rome in 2025.

Addressing the assembled pilgrims in a sunlit St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis reiterated the central theme of the Jubilee, underlining the importance of debt forgiveness. He reiterated his call for leaders of affluent nations to forgive or lessen the debts owed by poorer countries, emphasizing the responsibility of Christian leaders to set a positive example by spearheading debt forgiveness initiatives.

___
This content is supported by the Associated Press Religion coverage in collaboration with The Conversation US and is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. The Associated Press assumes full responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this report.

Author

Recommended news

Herro’s Clutch Shot Seals Heat’s Thrilling 89-88 Win over Magic!

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Herro sealed a dramatic 89-88 victory for the Miami Heat over the Orlando Magic...
- Advertisement -spot_img