Vatican City, May 12, 2013 / 10:00 am
Pope Francis greeted the thousands of people who had gathered this morning in Rome to protest against abortion, praising efforts to secure legal protection for human beings at their earliest stages of life.
"I greet the participants of the March for Life which took place this morning in Rome and invite everyone to stay focused on the important issue of respect for human life, from the moment of conception," said the Pope at St. Peter's Basilica.
He addressed the pro-life advocates at Saint Peter's Square in his comments for the May 12 Regina Caeli prayer. They had gathered in St. Peter's Square after marching against abortion earlier that day in Rome.
The march began at Rome's Colosseum and ended at Castel Sant'Angelo, just a few hundred feet from the Vatican.