«Dear sisters and dear brothers of the Movement for Life! Thank you for your memory in prayer. Thank you very much! », Pope Francis writes, in the message by May 5 Polyclinic Gemelli pronounced by the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, during the Holy Mass in the Vatican Basilica,” I greet you all, in particular the president, Mrs. Marina Casini, and the members of the board. I know the value of the service that you make to the Church and to the company. Together with concrete solidarity, lived with the style of closeness and proximity to mothers in difficulty for a difficult or unexpected pregnancy, you promote the culture of life in a broad sense. And try to do it with frankness, love and tenacity, keeping the truth closely united with charity to everyone. In this, the examples and teachings of Carlo Casini, who had made service to life the center of his secular apostolate and his political commitment, guide you.
“The opportunity that gathered in Rome,” writes the Pope, “is important: The fiftieth anniversary of the Movement for Life, whose first sprout was the life help center born in Florence in 1975. Since then, throughout Italy, the life help centers have multiplied. And to them the reception houses, the Sos Vita services, the Gemma project and the cots for life have been added. Countless initiatives have been undertaken to promote the culture of welcome and human rights at all levels of society. Therefore I encourage you to carry on the social protection of motherhood and the welcome of human life in all its phase. In this half century, while some ideological prejudices have decreased and the sensitivity for the care of creation has grown among young people, unfortunately the culture of waste has spread. Therefore, there is still and more than ever needing people of all ages who actually spend the service of human life, especially when it is more fragile and vulnerable; because it is sacred, created by God for a great and beautiful destiny; and why A right society is not built by eliminating unwanted unwanted, the elderly no longer autonomous or incurable patients. Dear sisters and dear brothers, you have come from many parts of Italy to renew once again your “yes” to the civilization of love, aware that freeing women from the conditioning that push them not to give birth to their child is a principle of renewal of civil society “.
“It is under everyone’s eyes,” the Pope regretted himself, “As today the company is structured on the categories of possessing, doing, producing, appearing. Your commitment, in harmony with that of the whole Church, indicates a different planning, which focuses on the dignity of the person and favors those who are weaker. The conceived represents, par excellence, every man and woman who does not count, who has no voice. Putting himself on his side means making himself solidarity with all the discarded in the world. And the gaze of the heart that recognizes him as one or one of us is the lever that moves this planning. Continue to bet on women, on their ability to welcome, generosity and courage. Women must be able to count on the support of the entire civil and ecclesial community, and life help centers can become a point of reference for everyone. Thank you for the pages of hope and tenderness that you help to write in the book of history and that remain indelible: they bring and bring many fruits. That the Lord bless you and the Holy Virgin keeps you. I entrust each of you, your groups and your commitment to the intercession of Santa Teresa di Calcutta, spiritual president of the movements for life in the world ».
