Pope Leo XIV defends life conceived in first general audience

Pope Leo XIV told a crowd at a general audience in St. Peter's Square that life must be protected with the utmost care once conceived. During his teaching based on the document Gaudium et spes, the Pope urged political and cultural leaders to support marriage and the family. He stated that protecting conceived life requires avoiding abortion and infanticide.

The audience was the Pope's first since his hospitalization at Gemelli, where he underwent surgery eight days ago to remove the lower lobe of his right lung due to an adenocarcinoma. He began the gathering by thanking the faithful for their prayers and expressing gratitude to God.

Addressing the social function of the family, the Pope described children as the most excellent gift of marriage. He noted that the family serves as a foundation of society and a school of humanity. He called for an urgent commitment from those with social responsibilities to promote marriage and family life.