Vatican City, Feb 5, 2006 / 22:00 pm
During Sunday’s weekly Angelus prayer, Pope Benedict told thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square that a true “culture of life” must be focused on care for others and defense of the weak--not hedonism and pleasure-seeking self-service.
Prior to the Marian prayer, the Holy Father reflected that the Day for Life, which was just celebrated in Italy "constitutes a precious occasion of prayer and reflection on the themes of the defense and promotion of human life, especially when it is found in conditions of difficulty.”
He pointed out that a number of lay faithful working in the field, “some committed in the Pro-Life Movement," had gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the occasion.
One of the groups represented yesterday was the Italian Movement for Life organization, which was accompanied by Cardinal Camillo Ruini.