By Dave Andrusko
Pope Leo XIV used the occasion of his first address to the annual meeting of Ambassadors accredited to the Holy See to blast abortion, stating unequivocally that a primary obligation of public policy must “remain the protection of every unborn child and the effective and concrete support of every woman so that she is able to welcome life.” He also warned of serious and growing threats to freedom of conscience.
“The vocation to love and to life, which manifests itself in an important way in the exclusive and indissoluble union between a woman and a man, implies a fundamental ethical imperative for enabling families to welcome and fully care for unborn life,” the Pontiff said. “Life, in fact, is a priceless gift that develops within a committed relationship based on mutual self-giving and service.”
Pope Leo continued
In light of this profound vision of life as a gift to be cherished, and of the family as its responsible guardian, we categorically reject any practice that denies or exploits the origin of life and its development. Among these is abortion, which cuts short a growing life and refuses to welcome the gift of life. In this regard, the Holy See expresses deep concern about projects aimed at financing cross-border mobility for the purpose of accessing the so-called “right to safe abortion.” It also considers it deplorable that public resources are allocated to suppress life, rather than being invested to support mothers and families. The primary objective must remain the protection of every unborn child and the effective and concrete support of every woman so that she is able to welcome life.
Furthermore, Pope Leo warned that
“It is painful to see how, especially in the West, the space for genuine freedom of expression is rapidly shrinking. At the same time, a new Orwellian-style language is developing which, in an attempt to be increasingly inclusive, ends up excluding those who do not conform to the ideologies that are fueling it.”
The consequence, he explained, is that this “ends up restricting fundamental human rights, starting with the freedom of conscience. In this regard, conscientious objection allows individuals to refuse legal or professional obligations that conflict with moral, ethical or religious principles deeply rooted in their personal lives,” including the right of doctors and healthcare professionals to refuse to “engage in practices such as abortion or euthanasia.”
He concluded this section of his 43-minute-long address with the critically important reminder that “Conscientious objection is not rebellion, but an act of fidelity to oneself.
At this moment in history, freedom of conscience seems increasingly to be questioned by states, even those that claim to be based on democracy and human rights. This freedom, however, establishes a balance between the collective interest and individual dignity. It also emphasizes that a truly free society does not impose uniformity but protects the diversity of consciences, preventing authoritarian tendencies and promoting an ethical dialogue that enriches the social fabric.