This Wednesday the pope surprised a group of children and invited them to get on the popemobile to greet the pilgrims. During the return to St. Peter's Square, one of the babies he blessed wore a very special suit.
In his catechesis, Pope Francis explained the fifth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” He said that it serves to protect a fundamental value in human relationships: the value of life. He recalled that we must watch over the lives of all and spoke about abortion.
POPE FRANCIS
“I ask you, is it right to take someone's life to solve a problem? What do you think? Is it fair? Is it fair? Is it fair or not? Is it fair to pay a hitman to solve a problem? No. You can't. It is not fair to kill a human being, even a small one, to solve a problem. It's like entrusting a hired killer with the task of solving a problem.”
The pope explained that the root of this sin is fear. For this reason, he asked for people to help parents who receive the news that they are expecting a sick or disabled child.
POPE FRANCIS
“Instead, they often get hasty advice to terminate the pregnancy. This is one way of saying... because terminating a pregnancy means killing one directly.” “In reality this person is a gift from God that can take one out of being self-centered and make one grow in love. Vulnerable life shows us the way out, to save us from a self-centered existence, and to discover the joy of love.”
Pope Francis recalled that the value of life is not measured by money, power or success, but by love. In addition to respecting the lives of others, he asked everyone, especially young people, to respect their own lives.
POPE FRANCIS
“You are a work of God! Don't underestimate yourself, don't despise yourself with addictions that ruin you and lead you to death.”.
At the end of the general audience, the pope greeted Argentinian Cardinal Luis Héctor Villalba, 83, who has traveled to Rome; and Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, who came with a group of pilgrims from Sri Lanka.
