At Salt + Light we all greatly admire Pope Francis. His words and actions have touched and impacted us in ways we never could have imagined. Today, tens of thousands of people – many of them young men and women – will descend upon Ottawa to March for Life. Let us never forget to reflect upon what we do as individuals and as a community, as we stand up for life – ALL human life.
Here are a few of our favorite quotes from throughout the years on the santicity and importance of the human life, which have stood out to us most, and inspired us to live more merciful, and holy lives.
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“So great is the value of a human life, and so inalienable the right to life of an innocent child growing in the mother’s womb, that no alleged right… can justify a decision to terminate that life.” (Amoris laetitia, 83)
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Human life must always be defended from its beginning in the womb and must be recognized as a gift of God that guarantees the future of humanity. - (Letter to Brazilian families for National Family Week, August 6, 2013)
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“Every life counts: from the beginning to the end, from conception to natural death “ Twitter, Jan. 19 201
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“All life has inestimable value even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.” (Message to Catholics participating in Day for Life in Britain & Ireland, July 28, 2013)
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Our defence of the innocent unborn, for example, needs to be clear, firm and passionate, for at stake is the dignity of a human life, which is always sacred and demands love for each person, regardless of his or her stage of development. Equally sacred, however, are the lives of the poor, those already born, the destitute, the abandoned and the underprivileged, the vulnerable infirm and elderly exposed to covert euthanasia, the victims of human trafficking, new forms of slavery, and every form of rejection. (Gaudete et exsultate, 84)
May these powerful words of Pope Francis be a guiding light and source of instruction, inspiration, consolation and hope to the people of our country as we march for life and defend human life – from conception to natural death – from womb to tomb. Thank you Pope Francis for all you have taught us and believed in!