Pope Francis Reiterates Anti-Abortion Message in New Year’s Day Homily

The pontiff called for a renewed commitment to protecting life from conception to natural death during a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis delivered a New Year’s Day homily emphasizing the protection of life at all stages, from conception to natural death.
The pontiff referred to abortion as akin to 'hiring a hitman to solve a problem,' a phrase he has used frequently in recent years.
Francis has become increasingly vocal about abortion compared to the early years of his papacy, when he criticized the Church’s focus on 'small-minded rules.'
The pope recently drew criticism in Belgium for labeling the country’s abortion law as 'homicidal,' prompting political backlash and public protests.
The Vatican has initiated the beatification process for Belgium’s late King Baudouin, who abdicated temporarily in 1990 to avoid signing abortion legislation.