On Italy’s Day of Life (Giornata per la Vita), Pope Francis asks that society be helped to heal itself from all attacks on life and warns that Italy’s future is at stake due to the declining birth rate.
Vatican News staff reporter
Pope Francis once again emphasized the importance of protecting life at all stages, in comments on the 43rd Italian Day for Life.
The celebration, which takes place every year on the first Sunday of February, was started by the Italian Bishops in 1978 and aims to promote a welcoming life, especially life in the mother’s womb. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Freedom in life”.
Speaking after the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis said: “I join the Italian bishops to remember that freedom is the great gift that God has given us to seek and achieve our own good and that of others, starting with the first good of life”. He insisted: “Our society must be helped to be healed from all attacks on life, so that it can be protected at all stages”.
Italy’s future in danger
Pope Francis also expressed his particular concern about the “Italian demographic winter”.
“In Italy, [the number of] births have decreased and the future is in danger ”, he warned. He asked the Italians “to take this concern and try to ensure that this demographic winter is over and that a new spring for boys and girls will flourish.”