MEXICO CITY, September 26, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Francis offered words of encouragement to participants of the demonstration to express support for traditional family life in Mexico.
On Sunday after a Mass for the jubilee of catechists at St. Peter’s Square and before the Angelus, Pope Francis took a moment to commend the Mexican people who gathered the day before in their country in defense of the family and in protest against the acknowledgement of homosexual “marriages.”
Pope Francis said:
I very happily associate myself with the Bishops of Mexico in their support of the commitment of the church and civil society in favor of the family and of life which, in this time, demand special pastoral and cultural attention in the entire world. I assure furthermore my prayer for the dear Mexican population, so that the violence that has claimed also priest victims in these days may cease.
Pope Francis’ words were intended to show support for the 400,000 participants who gathered Saturday for the second time in Mexico City for the “March for the Family.” The demonstration was organized by the National Front for the Family in response to the legislative action by President Enrique Pena Nieto that would legalize same-sex unions and acknowledge them as “marriages.”
Francis’ words were read by Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, Archbishop of Mexico City, during a Sunday Mass in the metropolitan Cathedral. During the homily, the Cardinal said, “Today Pope Francis has filled us with joy as he has sent us the words spoken on St. Peter’s Square that we may feel encouraged and comforted all those who work for the family.”
The march was not explicitly organized by the Catholic Church but was supported by the bishops and the faithful. Evangelical communities also participated.
During the return flight from his visit to Mexico on February 18, the Pope stressed that abortion “is a crime; an absolute evil.”