Pope Leo XIV Urges Respect for Life in Message to US March

Vatican, Jan 23, 2026: Ahead of the 2026 March for Life in Washington, D.C., Pope Leo XIV conveyed a message of greeting to the thousands expected to take part, assuring them of his spiritual closeness. In his message, the Pope expressed heartfelt appreciation for the march as an “eloquent public witness to affirm that ‘the protection of the right to life constitutes the indispensable foundation of every other human right’.” 

Referring to his address to members of the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Holy See earlier this month, the Pope outlined what a healthy and truly progressive society looks like—“it safeguards the sanctity of human life and works actively to promote it.”

With this in mind, he encouraged young people in particular to continue working to ensure that life is respected and protected in all its stages “through appropriate efforts at every level of society, including dialogue with civil and political leaders.”

Pope Leo prayed that Jesus would accompany all those who peacefully march on behalf of the unborn. “By advocating for them,” he said, “please know that you are fulfilling the Lord’s command to serve him in the least of our brothers and sisters.”

Closing his message, the Pope entrusted all the participants, and all who support them through prayer and sacrifice, to Mary Immaculate—the Patroness of the United States of America.

The first March for Life took place in January 1974, solemnly marking the one-year anniversary of the United States Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion. Its goal was to lobby Congressional leadership to find a legislative solution to the ruling Roe v. Wade.

Fifty years later, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with the historic Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, giving states more freedom to enact pro-life laws.

With this, the focus of the March for Life has shifted. “The goal of the national March for Life is to not only change laws at the state and federal level, but to change the culture to ultimately make abortion unthinkable,” according to the March’s official website.

Courtesy: Vatican News