Catholic World News News Feature
All are called to protect life, Pope says February 04, 2008
At his Angelus audience on Sunday, February 3, Pope Benedict XVI took special note of the Day for Life being celebrated in Italy, and said that it is "everyone's duty to welcome human life as a gift to be respected, protected and promoted, even more so when it is fragile and in need of attention and care, either before birth or when it is in its final stages."
The Pope said that everyone should serve the cause of life, each in his own particular ways. He gave special praise and encouragement to those who sacrifice themselves to care for elderly or disabled relatives, and those who volunteer to help the poor.
The Holy Father also reminded the 40,000 people assembled in St. Peter's Square that the weekend had seen the annual observance of the Day for Consecrated Life, and asked for prayers for the welfare of "all those people whom Christ calls to follow Him more closely" in religious life.
Continuing a list of reminders, the Pope observed that Lent will begin with Ash Wednesday this week, and encouraged the faithful to take advantage of this "time of authentic conversion." And he called attention to the 150th anniversary of the Marian apparitions at Lourdes, and plenary indulgence that is available to those who venerate Our Lady of Lourdes during the anniversary observances.
