Pope calls on international lay movement to work to protect life

Published: 2004-09-10

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II called on lay members of the international Schonstatt movement to work in their countries to protect human life, particularly from abortion. With its special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to following her as the model of faith and daily life, the Schonstatt movement should be "a shining light" in societies over which the shadow of the "culture of death" is spreading, the pope said. Some 2,500 members of the movement from 40 countries gathered in the courtyard of the pope's summer villa at Castel Gandolfo Sept. 9. They had come to Italy for the inauguration of their newest Marian shrine, the Shrine of the Mother Thrice Admirable, in Rome. The pope praised the movement for its focus on building strong, praying families and for reminding members of their responsibility to bring Gospel values to the societies in which they live. Pope John Paul asked them to continue the work of their founder, the late German Father Joseph Kentenich, in defending human life, particularly the life of the unborn.

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