Thousands gathered in Rome on June 13 to march against Italian legislation permitting abortion and to defend those with disabilities and the vulnerable in Italy who could be affected by future legislation on euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Participants in the "Scegliamo della Vita" ("Let's Choose Life") March — an annual pro-life march since 2011 — gathered at the Piazza della Repubblica to voice support for promoting a culture of life in Italy and for respecting the human dignity of every person at all stages.
Current abortion legislation in Italy
Abortion first became legal in Italy in May 1978, allowing women to terminate a pregnancy up to 12 weeks of gestation.
This has since been followed by certain measures in favor of abortion by the Italian Ministry of Health, including permitting abortions as an essential healthcare service during the COVID-19 pandemic and allowing chemical termination of pregnancy up to 63 days.
Maria Rachele Ruiu, a prominent Italian pro-life advocate and participant in the march, expressed her hope to EWTN News that the march will persuade the Italian government to repeal current legislation permitting abortion.
"In Italy, unfortunately, we have Law 194, which governs abortion. It allows abortion up to the 12th week, but it is also permitted beyond that if a specific medical diagnosis is made," Ruiu told EWTN News. "We want to show that choosing and protecting life is not only right, important, and necessary but also beautiful."
Potential legislation permitting euthanasia and assisted suicide
Other participants voiced concerns about rumors that the Italian government would enact laws permitting euthanasia and assisted suicide more broadly.
Massimo Gandolfini, spokesperson for the Scegliamo della Vita March, expressed opposition to such laws and discussed the role that men have in promoting a pro-life culture.
"We see that this right [to life] today is deeply wounded and heavily attacked with abortion law, and with this rumored law on assisted suicide, to which we are totally opposed," Gandolfini said.
"We [men] want to demonstrate to keep attention high on a fundamental issue, which is the right to life. The right to life is the right that underpins every other right of a civil society and a democratic society."
Ruiu added that the participants at the march would "ask Parliament not to legislate."
A future of marriages and children
Looking to the future, Ruiu stated that young people can support a culture of life by getting married and having families of their own.
"We want to bear witness to the fact that choosing life is worth it, especially for those who choose it; that having a child is wonderful news for the family and for society; that people can get married. Young people, get married and have children!
"They always portray us, even in the press, as ugly and bad; we want to parade through Rome to show our true face: happy people," Ruiu said.
