From Chicago to the Vatican: Pope Leo XIV's Pro-Life Journey

Join Cincinnati Right to Life in praying for our American Pope, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV. We are certainly enthused that our new Pope has personally participated in many of the pro-life activities that Cincinnati Right to Life advocates for daily. 

His marching for life, to student pro-life activities, and supporing women in crisis, the new Pope has been an active member of the pro-life community. 

From Chicago—one of the most staunchly pro-abortion cities in the U.S.—to the global seat of Catholicism in the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV's life and priesthood has been a bold testament to unwavering pro-life conviction.

Born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, he grew up in a city known for its aggressive support of abortion rights. But amid the cultural noise, Prevost found clarity in Catholic teaching. His early faith was nurtured in the working-class neighborhoods of the South Side, where he was an altar server and choir member at St. Mary of the Assumption. Even as a young man, he was outspoken about the dignity of life, once saying, “A society that permits the killing of its most vulnerable ceases to be humane.”

His convictions only deepened during his time at Villanova University; a Catholic institution grounded in Augustinian values. It was there, as an undergraduate math major, that he saw the need for more outspoken student advocacy on life issues. In response, he co-founded the campus’s first official pro-life student organization. 

After joining the Augustinian order and becoming a missionary in Peru, Prevost’s pro-life ministry expanded internationally. In 2015, he joined more than half a million people in the March for Life in Lima, boldly declaring, “Every life—rich or poor, born or unborn—is a gift from God that demands our protection.” His work in Peru focused not only on defending life from abortion but also on helping women and families in crisis through community and pastoral support.

In homilies and speeches throughout his Catholic priesthood, Pope Leo XIV expressed the value of all life. 

“The Church must walk with all people, especially the most vulnerable, ensuring their dignity is upheld from the womb to the end of life, as this is the heart of Christ’s mission.” 

“Bishops are called to be shepherds who defend the sanctity of life, ensuring no one—neither the unborn nor the aging—is left without the Church’s love and protection.”

We pray for Pope Leo XIV and look forward to his voice proclaiming the Gospel of Life throughout his Papacy. 


Dear 40 Days for Life Spring/Lenten 2025 participants,

My deepest gratitude to all involved who prepared for or participated in the latest Cincinnati campaign. I’m grateful to all who made the sacrifice to come to the sidewalk to pray in reparation for all the abortions that have been committed and to ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of all involved in this evil in any way.  For all the mothers and fathers who felt that this was their only option, we pray that they will ask for and receive God’s forgiveness.  We pray also for those who will face this crisis in the future, that God will put loving people in their paths to direct them to the help they need to welcome their children with love.

I never cease to be humbled by all of you, especially those who had to brave the heavy rain or mostly blustery cold days throughout the campaign.  That gave us another opportunity for penance.  For those who came on a rare bright and warm(ish) day, lucky you!

May you have a blessed Holy Week and a Joyous Easter Season.

God bless you all.

Sincerely,
Mary Clark and the Cincinnati 40 Days for Life Team

Pregnant? Need Help? You are Not Alone. You deserve to have all the support you need during this important time. We care and will walk with you. You are not alone. We can help. Click here for more information.

What To Do When a Friend is Considering Abortion - click here

March for Life 2023: Full Speech of Jonathan Roumie (who plays Jesus in The Chosen) - click here

The Roman Catholic Bishops of Kentucky have issued the following statement in response to the rejection of Amendment 2 by Kentucky voters - click here

DIOCESE OF COVINGTON PRO-LIFE PAGE - click here

DCCH CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
DCCH Center for Children and Families with the Pro-Life Office continues to promote the St. Joseph Ministry within our diocese. As St. Joseph accepted the task of fostering Jesus, we can model him and raise awareness of how our church can support the 8,170 children in Kentucky’s child protection system needing a foster or adoptive family. 

THE SOUND OF HOPE
The Sound of Hope, released July 2024, tells the true story of a rural community in Possum Trot, Texas adopting 77 children within 22 families from Bennett Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Inspired – DCCH trusts the Covington Diocese can offer hope to KY children needing a family, too! For more information, please contact Ron at rbertsch@dcchcenter.org.

PRAYER FOR BABIES IN THEIR MOTHER'S WOMB
O God of all creation,
Nurture and protect tiny children and keep them safe in the sanctuary of their mother’s womb.
As You so wondrously form their hearts and minds and lungs and souls, so strengthen our will to lovingly nurture and protect them.
Give us the eyes to see them as our brothers and sisters, the minds to welcome them as our own, and the faith to defend them as Your children.
We ask this through the intercession of Mary, our Blessed Mother, and the mother of all the little ones, through Christ, Our Son, Our Lord. Amen.

THE GOSPEL OF LIFE
“Having received the gift of the Gospel of Life, we are the people of life and a people for life. It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel of Life to the world. To proclaim Jesus is to proclaim life itself. Gratitude and joy at the incomparable dignity of the human person impel us to bring the Gospel of life to the hearts of all people and make it penetrate every part of society.”
USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities; “The Gospel of Life: A Brief Summary” respectlife.org/gospel-of-life-summary

BAPTIZED BABY GIFT BAGS ARE BACK! 
The Pro-life Baptized Baby Gift Bag Ministry is back in action. If you have a sewing machine and would be interested in helping to make blankets, please contact Mary Carol Heidrich at 859-891-9030 (call or text) or marycarolheidrich@gmail.com, for more details. Fabric and decal are provided. Thank you for considering to share your talent.

LIFE’S 5th QUARTER 
The fifth Saturday Masses and Prayer Vigils for Life are sponsored by LIFE’S 5TH QUARTER. The goal is to tap into the enthusiasm that our youth demonstrate each January at the March for Life in Washington, D.C. ,and to teach our youth the power of the best spiritual weapon available to us, outside the Eucharist, – THE ROSARY. 
LIFE’S 5TH QUARTER is challenging our YOUTH to take ownership of these 5th Saturdays along with adult support to give JUST TWO HOURS once each Quarter of the year to pray for the end to abortion and to return our nation to a Culture of Life! 
Jesus Christ tells us to take up our cross and follow Him. It only requires JUST TWO HOURS of your time. Please join us and bring friends and family. Visit www.facebook.com/lifes5thquarter for information or write Lifes5thquarter@mail.com.


PROJECT RACHEL 
Come back to God, who is LOVE and MERCY
Life is a gift from God, and so is His mercy. Tens of millions of Americans have been directly touched by abortion and have feelings of regret, guilt and grief. God’s healing love and mercy are always possible. Many Catholics want to help women and men who have experienced abortion, but some don’t know how to begin. The Diocese of Covington, in accordance with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, offer the Project Rachel Ministry, a confidential, compassionate journey to healing. Project Rachel help line (859) 392- 1547 or www.covdio.org/projectrachel or projectrachel@covdio.org.  

Paula Westwood, executive director of Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati and coordinator of the St. Anthony Pro-Life Committee with her husband Greg, wrote a wonderful article in the January 19, 2018 issue of the Messenger entitled "Witness for life: Lamp of light in a shadowed world".  Click here to read it!

MORE PRO-LIFE INFO
On Saturdays all year, there is an 8:00 a.m. Mass at Holy Name Church a few blocks down from PP, followed by a Rosary walk to and prayer in front of PP, then return to the church for closing (organized through Helpers of God’s Precious Infants or Mary’s Mantle for Life).

OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIFE NEEDS YOU
A girl facing a difficult decision regarding the life of her unborn baby needs YOU. A baby whose mom is thinking about abortion needs YOU. You can help her and her baby. Opportunities for Life is a ministry of the Kentucky Catholic Bishops serving abortion vulnerable women and men. Volunteers offer hope, compassion, options counseling and resources to callers who find the courage to seek help. Volunteers are needed to staff the 24-hour helpline from their homes. If you have a heart for life affirming ministry, please call (888)496-3638 to learn more about this ministry and a training workshop in your diocese.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP)
Learn NFP at home and at your own pace with the Home Study Course from NFP International, www.nfpandmore.org. Includes Ecological Breastfeeding (it really can space babies), a double-check system of fertility awareness, and Catholic teaching that’s easy to understand. Work with a live instructor by email. Completion certificate. Only $70.00.

DIOCESE OF COVINGTON – PRO-LIFE OFFICE
Would you like to stay up-to-date of Pro-Life events and issues in our diocese and local community? Email Peggy Piccola at ppiccola@covdio.org to receive our monthly newsletter. You can also “like” The Many Faces of Pro-Life page on Facebook. Both the newsletter and the Facebook page are excellent ways to stay up-to-date with what’s going on in our community to promote LIFE!

PRAYER TO SPIRITUALLY ADOPT A BABY IN DANGER OF ABORTION
                 -by Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of [baby's name], the unborn baby I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion".

Say this prayer every day for nine months for a particular but unknown baby in danger of abortion

Pro-Life Rosary Prayer Intentions

Diocese of Covington Pro-Life Office - News and Events

USCCB Pro-Life Activities

Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities: Subscriptions

Walking WIth Moms In Need