HLI World Prayer Congress for Life Opens in the Eternal City

by Staff
October 8, 2010

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ROME, Italy, (christiansunite.com) -- After the first day of meetings and seminars, the 5th Human Life International World Prayer Congress for Life in Rome is shaping up to be the most dynamic Congress to date. Featuring six members of the Roman Curia, and dozens of accomplished clergy, religious, physicians, and pro-life leaders from around the world, the Congress is attracting the attention of international media.

During the homily of the opening Mass on Tuesday, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, welcomed Congress attendees: "It is God that has raised and supports your efforts. Tonight we want to thank Him together because He has chosen you as his friends and collaborators, because He gives you strength, intelligence and perseverance to go against the dominant culture, the political power, the rampant corruption."

Dietmar Fischer, executive director of HLI Austria (www.hli.at), and chief organizer of the Congress in his welcoming remarks underlined the importance of the World Prayer Congress, stating: "When so many prayerful and committed leaders come together, wonderful things can happen, and they certainly are happening!"

The HLI World Prayer Congress for Life was co-sponsored by HLI, Austria's Helpers of God's Precious Infants, World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations, World Prayer for Life, Fatima World Apostolate, La Salette Professional Education Center, European Physicians Campaign, and the Yes to Life Foundation.

Members of the Roman Curia who are giving presentations at the conference are His Excellency Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family; His Excellency Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; His Excellency Cardinal Angelo Comastri, President of the Fabric of Saint Peter and Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica; His Excellency Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura; His Excellency Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers; and His Excellency Bishop Jean Laffitte, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

"The international pro-life movement relies not only on the truths about human life given to us by science and clear ethical thinking, but even more we must rely on prayer which creates a loving relationship with the Author of Truth," said Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro, interim president of HLI and executive director of HLI's Rome office. "Even if we see, as we have in the past couple of years, a deluge of new and well-funded assaults on life worldwide, we know that we have the upper hand to the extent that we trust in the providence of God, who will in the end bring victory. This is why this Congress and its focus on both faith and reason is essential to the leadership of the pro-life movement, and why Human Life International is grateful to be able to serve in the mission given to us."

The 5th HLI World Prayer Congress for Life continues through October 10. The full program and more information may be found at www.hli.at/rom_neu_2010/english/engl_frameset.htm.

Human Life International: Pro-Life Missionaries to the World

Founded in 1981, HLI is the world's largest pro-life organization and has affiliates and associates in over 100 countries on six continents. www.hli.org