POPE BLESSES “VOICE OF THE UNBORN” BELL

POPE BLESSES “VOICE OF THE UNBORN” BELL

Before the general audience, in an area just outside the Paul Vi Hall, Pope Francis blessed a bell titled “Voice of the Unborn” donated by the Polish “Yes to life” Foundation in Zambia. The bell will be brought to Infant Jesus Cathedral in Lusaka and from there it will travel to other cities in the country.

Archbishop Alick Banda of Lusaka and the vice-president of the Bogdan Romaniuk Foundation took part in the blessing of the bell. The Bells of the “voice of the unborn” are already ringing in Poland, Ukraine and Ecuador, and other countries are also interested in the initiative.

Bogdan Romaniuk, a Ukrainian entrepreneur, is the idea man behind these “Voice of the Unborn” bells, an idea that came to him when he learned that every year, over 42 million children around the world are killed through abortion. In order to draw attention to this, Romaniuk presented to the board of directors of the Polish “Yes to Life” Foundation the idea of a bell that would speak on behalf of the unborn and speak out for conceived life.

Speaking at a “Yes to Life” event in 2021, Romaniuk noted how “The goal of the founders of the European Union was to strive to build European unity based on Christian values. This is also shown by the flag of the European Union, on which there are twelve stars symbolizing the Mother of God.” He highlighted how ideologies opposed to the civilization of life are trying to “shape the consciousness of people against life from conception to natural death.”

At the general audience on October 27, 2021, the Pope spoke of two bells he had earlier blessed – the first two “Voice of the Unborn” bells.

He said, “At the request of the Polish Foundation ‘Yes to Life,” I blessed bells today bearing the name ‘The Voice of the Unborn.’ Their destiny is Ecuador and Ukraine. May it be for these and all nations a sign of commitment to the defense of human life from conception to natural death. May their sound proclaim to the world the “Gospel of Life,” awaken consciences and the memory of the unborn. I entrust to your prayer every child conceived, whose life is sacred and inviolable. I bless you from my heart.”

Engraved on the bells are the words of Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko: “The life of a child begins under the heart of its mother,” as well as those of the 5th commandment: “Thou shalt not kill.”