How Pope Francis Spent Mother's Day and Surprised 40,000 Pro-Lifers: He Joined a March for Life

Aimee Herd : May 13, 2013
Hilary White – LifeSiteNews.com

"I invite you to keep the attention of everyone on the important issue of respect for human life from the moment of conception." -Pope Francis

(Rome, Italy)—Pro-Life participants in the Marcia per la Vita (March for Life) which took place on Sunday in Rome, were surprised and delighted by an unexpected visit from Pope Francis.

The pontiff reportedly left the Apostolic Palace to greet marchers in his popemobile, a move that was called "highly unusual" by the head of the Rome office of Human Life International.

However, while the event was a surprise to the marchers, it seemed to have been planned by the Vatican, as crowd barriers to guide the popemobile had been lined up prior to his appearance.

LifeSiteNews reported, "'The March for Life brought 40 thousand people to Rome today,' organizers announced after the event. 'The Pope greeted the march at the Regina Coeli and then met the parade on the Popemobile in the Via Concilazione.'"

In his weekly address, the pope gave a "shout out" to the pro-life marchers saying, "I invite you to keep the attention of everyone on the important issue of respect for human life from the moment of conception."