Pope on Day for Life: Demographic winter threatens Italy's future

By Vatican News staff reporter

Pope Francis once again emphasized the importance of protecting life at all stages, in remarks on the 43rd Italian Day for Life.

The commemoration, which takes place each year on the first Sunday in February, was begun by the Italian Bishops in 1978, and aims at promoting welcoming life, especially the life in the womb. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Freedom in life.”

Speaking after the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis said, “I join the Italian bishops in recalling that freedom is the great gift God has given us to seek and achieve our own good and that of others, starting with the primary good of life.” He insisted, “Our society must be helped to be cured of all attacks on life, so that it may be protected at every stage.”

Italy’s future in peril

Pope Francis also voiced his particular concern for the “Italian demographic winter.”

“In Italy, [the number of] births have declined, and the future is in danger,” he warned. He called on Italians “to take this concern and try to ensure that this demographic winter might come to an end, and a new springtime of baby boys and girls might flourish.”