Three-quarters of a million people paraded through
downtown Lima on Saturday in celebration of human dignity from
conception to natural death.
by CNA/EWTN NEWS
03/18/2016
March for Life in Lima, Peru
– National Right to Life Instagram
LIMA, Peru — Three-quarters of a million people
paraded through downtown Lima on Saturday in a massive celebration of
life from conception to natural death.
Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne addressed the crowd March 12,
urging prayers for the family and for any women who “for some reason, in
a moment of weakness, unfortunately aborted” their children, saying
that forgiveness is always necessary.
However, he stressed, “We can’t just easily let them say abortion is a right. It’s not a right; it’s murder!”
Cardinal Cipriani said Pope Francis sent his blessing to the Lima
March for Life during their March 4 meeting in Rome with the Pontifical
Commission for Latin America. The cardinal showed the Holy Father the
official poster for this year’s march, and the Pope gave his blessing
and wished them as much success as they had last year.
“We are people of peace; we’re tolerant people; we wish the whole world had that freedom of speech,” Cardinal Cipriani said.
“And so we’ve expressed ourselves that way today. Really, it’s the
youth that give us so much hope; you can really bring about change.”
The March for Life paraded down Brasil Avenue en route to the Costa Verde seaside highway to gather on the seashore.
The celebration continued with a concert focusing on the importance of defending life, the dignity of women and the family.
Catholics, brought together by the Archdiocese of Lima, as well as
Christians of various denominations, participated in the march. A
multitude of young people, pregnant mothers, families with young
children, elderly and people with disabilities joined in the event,
chanting pro-life songs and slogans.
Several presidential and congressional politicians up for election
attended the event in order to express their commitment to opposing
abortion.
In Peru, a person’s life is protected under the constitution, the
civil code, the Code for Children and Adolescents and the American
Convention on Human Rights of the Organization of American States from
conception until natural death. Each year the country celebrates the
life of unborn babies with the March 25 “Unborn Children’s Day.”
