Priests for Life Pilgrimage to Rome - 2013

The Church is currently observing the "Year of Faith." As an official part of that observance, there will be a celebration in Rome in honor of the Gospel of Life, on Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16, including a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis.

This event is a sign, of course, of the integral connection between being a believer and being pro-life. Our stance in favor of life does not flow primarily from an ideology or a political platform, but rather from the same act of faith by which we embrace Jesus Christ, the Resurrection and the Life.

Believers who work for the defense of life need the encouragement of their Church leaders; in turn, they need to encourage those leaders as well. A huge turnout for these June events will be the kind of encouragement we should give our pastors, as well as a sign to the world that the Church is united and strong in the defense of life.

Last year, at the same time that these events were first announced, Priests for Life announced that we had arranged a pilgrimage to help people take part in them. All the spaces on that pilgrimage are now full, which is a very encouraging sign. The pilgrimage will begin on June 10 and will culminate with the Papal Mass on June 16.

Individuals and groups, of course, who are not registered for the pilgrimage, are encouraged to come to Rome on their own to take part in the pro-life events on June 15-16. If you are registered for the pilgrimage, you are already registered for the Vatican events, but if you are not part of our pilgrimage, you need to register separately for the events themselves, including the papal mass, by going to www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en/eventi/giornataevangeliumvitae.html.

The events include educational seminars on Saturday, June 15, Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions, a Candlelight Procession in Rome on Saturday night, and a Mass in Saint Peter's Square on Sunday morning, June 16 at 9am celebrated by Pope Francis.

Of course, most people are not able to actually be in Rome for these events. Priests for Life will therefore provide educational and pastoral resources for families, groups, and parishes to utilize right at home.