What is urgently called for is a general mobilization of consciences
and a united ethical effort
to activate a great campaign
in support of life.
All together, we must build a culture of life..."
(Evangelium Vitae, 95)

It is in response to this pressing appeal of the Pope that the Pontifical Council for the Family, focusing on the theme "The Gospel of Life" organized the Third World Congress of Pro-Life Movements which was held in Rome last October 2-4 at the University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum). With about ten members of the Swiss association "Yes to Life/SOS Future Mothers," I had the joy of being able to participate in this Congress which gathered about 1,000 persons representing 100 movements from more than 40 different countries. The goal was thus to develop the papal encyclical, each of the participants being aware that he or she would provide outlines and criteria for direction to work out the strategies to be set in motion to defend human life faced with the various threats which hang over it at the end of the 20'th century.

When he received the members of the Congress at an audience, John Paul reminded us of the necessity of a "convergent action of pastoral organizations and pro-life movements... justified by the very fact that life, the fundamental value of all society, manifests its full meaning in the light of faith."

Faced with "threats programmed in a scientific and systematic manner, we must," he added, "join forces, establish common, harmonious, and effective strategies.... It is not realistic to think that a culture of life can affirm itself if it lacks a serious education of consciences," as well as a "scientific preparation" with regard to those who are engaged in it.

The Pope thus clearly called for a concordant harmony among the various movements that struggle for life and the family, for a thorough formation of the intelligence in love, as well as for a social and political commitment without ambiguity. Repeating this appeal for unity, he concluded his speech saying,

"Your strength resides in the truth to which you bear witness, but the efficiency of your action depends in a large part upon the harmonious concord of your initiatives."

Very enriching and convergent teachings were given, moreover, during the plenary sessions: by Cardinal Lopez Trujillo, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Bishop Elio Sgreccia, Secretary of the Council and Vice-President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, and Cardinal Angelini, President of the Pontifical Council for Health. Each of them, in somewhat different ways, showed that faced by the quasi-absolute reign of subjectivity, there was an urgency for a realistic rediscovery of what man is, in his nature and his person, for it is indeed human nature which is given divine grace in order to raise it to a new dignity.

A round table discussion with political representatives gathered, to name a few, Carlo Casini of the European Parliament, Herbert Schambeck, Vice-President of the Austrian Federal Council, the Polish deputy Alice Grzeskowiak, Brazilian Humberto Vierira, and David Alton, member of the English Parliament. By means of very strong testimonies, each was able to show that the defense of life is indeed a political and social question of primary importance and emphasize the educative role of a just law.

Numerous other interventions--notably from Eastern countries like Russia, the Ukraine, Slovonia, Lithuania (represented by its minister of health)--gave rise to deep emotion.

As for the spokespersons from Asia, Latin America, or Africa, the interventions that they unanimously addressed to western countries were very animated: they begged them to stop inundating them with contraceptive material! Because of the millions of dollars being spent by family planning to promote chemical contraceptives, their struggle for life and the preservation of family values is almost bound to fail, although the women of these "developing" countries prove to be much more receptive than Westerners to natural methods of birth control, methods whose pedagogical value and efficacity can no longer be contested. "Do not impose upon us western modes of life; our youth are capable of other models," a young Pakistani doctor exclaimed. Why do you export to the Third World the worst that you have? You underestimate youth by giving them the pill as though they were animals" said Mrs. Mercedes Wilson, delegate from Guatemala, president of the "Family of the Americas," not hesitating to declare that Family Planning was the "cancer of today's world"!

One after another they showed how the present reality confirms the words of the Holy Father, who maintains in his encyclical that contraception and abortion come from the same mentality: in fact, the contraceptive pill paved the way for abortion and statistics show a parallel rise in both practices.

Some work sessions took place in language groups focusing on a preliminary questionnaire sent to participants. The French group contained seventeen nationalities. The internal tensions concerning the opportunity for certain modalities of conscientious objection were quite apparent. Also in such groups we worked on drawing up a "manifesto for life" intended to warn public opinion on all continents about this "culture of death" whose numerous and powerful agents are found within government and the media, education and industry, and whose victims are the most vulnerable: the unborn child, handicapped or elderly. This manifesto prolongs and makes concrete the pressing appeal that the Gospel of Life addresses to all men of good will: it is first of all a call to a mobilization of prayer in diverse forms, and also of action which, if not rooted in prayer, is soon sterile.

This action is directed towards raising an awareness and a solid formation of consciences which requires one to "reestablish the essential connection between life and freedom" (Evangelium Vitae, 96), a quest for truth about the human person and his dignity, the human body, personal love. Something which goes hand in hand with social and political involvement, in full conformity with the "natural law," particular concern for the education of youth, the formation of couples in the use of natural methods of birth control.

These various commitments will be all the more credible and fruitful if we are careful to remain, in imitation of Christ, "on the front line of providing charitable help" (Evangelium Vitae, 27), giving evidence of new zeal in people helping and befriending women tempted by abortion or wounded by this practice, those at the end of their life, drug addicts, those suffering with AIDS, etc.

Christians are invited to lead this struggle, full of hope, sure of the final victory. Indeed, as John Paul said to the participants of this Congress, "The victory of truth and life is already won in salvation history; it awaits the commitment of all persons who are powerfully inspired with respect for human dignity, with a view towards including it in human history."