By Claire Chretien
Editor’s note. This is excerpted from a post at LifesiteNews and is reposted with permission.
ROME, Italy, May 22, 2017 – Thousands of Italians marched against abortion and euthanasia on Saturday at the nation’s annual March for Life (Marcia per la Vita) alongside Cardinal Raymond Burke, Bishop Athanasius Schneider of Kazakhstan, and Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.
The Rome March for Life is “taking on a life of its own,” Father Francesco Giordano, director of Human Life International’s Rome office, told LifeSiteNews.
There were groups of priests and religious from the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, the Institute of the Incarnate Word, the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, and the Society of St. Pius X. Students, youth groups, families, and a group of bagpipers from Tradition, Family, Property carried banners and flags. The Italian branch of Rachel’s Vineyard and other Christian organizations were represented as well.
The March ended with a rally at which abortion survivor Gianna Jessen urged pro-lifers to be “unashamed of Jesus” and Belgian Professor Stéphane Mercier praised Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mercier is facing investigation, and possible sacking, from the Catholic University of Louvain for presenting his students with philosophical arguments against abortion. Jessen was born during a failed saline abortion.
“This is a battle between life and death and we need God’s help,” she said. “It’s a broken world and broken people need real answers that come from God.”
Jessen had a special message for men and women who have participated in abortion: “The only freedom any of us will ever find from our sin is Jesus.”
“Young women: you are made to be loved and respected,” she said. “Women, we are not meant to be used and to have the men walk away. Men, you are made to be courageous and honorable.” …
Giordano said pro-lifers must “network globally and work locally,” something he took away from the Rome Life Forum. …
Another “battle to fight” is efforts in Europe to ban pro-life websites, he warned.
But the “hope of our future” are young couples who form big, “holy” families, he said. “I can’t encourage that enough.”