Pope Francis marked the beginning of the New Year with a strong message urging the faithful to reject abortion and uphold the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. The 88-year-old pontiff led a New Year's Day Mass at St. Peter's Basilica dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
In his homily, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of caring for every individual, including unborn children, the suffering, the poor, the elderly, the lonely, and the dying. He called for a 'firm commitment' to respect human life at all stages, echoing the Catholic Church's stance against abortion and euthanasia.
