The "Gospel of life" is now more necessary than ever, says Pope Francis

 Defending life is not an abstract concept but a duty for all Christians and means protecting the unborn, the poor, the sick, the unemployed and migrants, said Pope Francis.

Although humanity lives "in the era of universal human rights", it continues to face "new threats and new slavery", as well as legislation that "is not always in place to protect the weakest and most vulnerable human life", the Pope said on March 25 during a live broadcast of his weekly general audience from the library of the Apostolic Palace.

"Every human being is called by God to enjoy the fullness of life," he said. And since all human beings are "entrusted to the maternal care of the church, every threat to human dignity and life cannot fail to be felt in her heart, in her" mother's womb ".

In his main address, the pope reflected on the feast of the Annunciation and on the 25th anniversary of “Evangelium vitae” (“The Gospel of life”), St. John Paul's 1995 encyclical on the dignity and sacredness of all human life.

The pope said the Annunciation, in which the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would become the mother of God, and "Evangelium vitae" shared a "close and deep" bond, which is now more relevant than ever "in the context of a pandemic that threatens human life and the world economy “.

The coronavirus pandemic "makes the words with which the encyclical begins seem even more inspiring," he said, quoting: "'The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus' message. Lovingly received day after day by the church, it is that of be preached with fearless faithfulness as good news to people of all ages and cultures. ""

Praising the "silent witness" of men and women who serve the sick, the elderly, the lonely and the forgotten, the pope said that those who bear witness to the Gospel are "like Mary who, having accepted the angel's announcement, is cousin Elisabetta who needed it went to help her. "

John Paul's encyclical on the dignity of human life, he added, is "more relevant than ever" not only in its defense of life but also in its call to transmit "an attitude of solidarity, care and acceptance" to future generations .

The culture of life "is not the exclusive patrimony of Christians, but belongs to all those who, working to build fraternal relationships, recognize the value of every person, even when they are frail and suffering," the pope said.

Francis said that “every human life, unique and one of a kind, is priceless. This must always be proclaimed anew, with the "parrhesia" ("audacity") of the word and the courage of actions ".

“Therefore, with Saint John Paul II, I reiterate with renewed conviction the appeal he addressed to everyone 25 years ago: 'Respect, defend, love and serve life, every life, every human life! Only on this path will you find justice, development, freedom, peace and happiness! '”, The pope said.