The IV Pro-life World Congress convened in the Zaragoza Auditorium in Spain from November 6th through 8th. "Public awareness: a symphony for life" was the congress' theme and it is a task of the Permanent Council of the Pro-life World Congress which was organized, on behalf of the Spanish Federation of Pro-life Groups, by the Aragon Pro-life Association.
"Spain was chosen because of our upcoming legislative acts, which are already on the table. It was a blessing because hosting this conference has been a wake-up call to all the participants so as to create a culture of life that is necessary in order to defend human life effectively and coherently."
The speakers came from 14 different countries, including the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Chile, Cuba, Argentina, El Salvador, Croatia, Italy, and Spain. More than a thousand people attended the event and Manuel Ureña, Archbishop of Zaragoza, participated in the opening and closing sessions.
"It is a congress which speaks the truth; a truth that all men must listen to; a truth that is constantly being trampled on by men. And that truth is the fundamental value of life."
The main goal of the congress was to awaken society so that it may support women who become pregnant unexpectedly and defend the unborn baby.
"I would like to tell all women who have had an abortion to remember John Paul II's words: We have to be pro-life women, women who defend life, since we have suffered so much because of the loss of our child; we have to help other women escape this experience. Where there is life there is hope, but one must fight to convey hope."
The congress dealt with the need for public awareness of the protection of life from the medical, juridical, political, welfare, ethical, and anthropological points of view. The IV Pro-life World Congress also included the "One million candles" initiative, which took place on the night of November 7th; the candles symbolized all the children who were not born in Spain because of abortion.
"This initiative arose because those of us who were preparing the World Congress thought that it was important to host an event that would attract people's attention, an event that would demonstrate how Spain is missing one million and five hundred thousand of its children ever since the abortion law was passed. And it is for them that we are lighting these candles, for them and for their mothers, who are the ones who suffer the consequences of this evil, this curse on our society, which abortion is."
The long line of candles stretched over four kilometers, from the Zaragoza Auditorium to Pilar Square; an eloquent testimony to life, in which entire families participated. During the congress' closing ceremony, the 2009 Humanity Award and the "Matilde Pérez Jover" Awards -- named in tribute to Spain's pioneer for the defense of life -- were presented. The flame that was lit will continue to burn during the congress' 5th edition, which will take place in El Salvador in 2011.
"Spain was chosen because of our upcoming legislative acts, which are already on the table. It was a blessing because hosting this conference has been a wake-up call to all the participants so as to create a culture of life that is necessary in order to defend human life effectively and coherently."
The speakers came from 14 different countries, including the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Chile, Cuba, Argentina, El Salvador, Croatia, Italy, and Spain. More than a thousand people attended the event and Manuel Ureña, Archbishop of Zaragoza, participated in the opening and closing sessions.
"It is a congress which speaks the truth; a truth that all men must listen to; a truth that is constantly being trampled on by men. And that truth is the fundamental value of life."
The main goal of the congress was to awaken society so that it may support women who become pregnant unexpectedly and defend the unborn baby.
"I would like to tell all women who have had an abortion to remember John Paul II's words: We have to be pro-life women, women who defend life, since we have suffered so much because of the loss of our child; we have to help other women escape this experience. Where there is life there is hope, but one must fight to convey hope."
The congress dealt with the need for public awareness of the protection of life from the medical, juridical, political, welfare, ethical, and anthropological points of view. The IV Pro-life World Congress also included the "One million candles" initiative, which took place on the night of November 7th; the candles symbolized all the children who were not born in Spain because of abortion.
"This initiative arose because those of us who were preparing the World Congress thought that it was important to host an event that would attract people's attention, an event that would demonstrate how Spain is missing one million and five hundred thousand of its children ever since the abortion law was passed. And it is for them that we are lighting these candles, for them and for their mothers, who are the ones who suffer the consequences of this evil, this curse on our society, which abortion is."
The long line of candles stretched over four kilometers, from the Zaragoza Auditorium to Pilar Square; an eloquent testimony to life, in which entire families participated. During the congress' closing ceremony, the 2009 Humanity Award and the "Matilde Pérez Jover" Awards -- named in tribute to Spain's pioneer for the defense of life -- were presented. The flame that was lit will continue to burn during the congress' 5th edition, which will take place in El Salvador in 2011.
