The Pope’s message to the Bishops of England and Wales – For dignity in every stage of life

More than
300,000 postcards will be distributed to parishioners in England and Wales this
weekend offering guidance about end of life decisions. This initiative is part
of the day for Life celebration to be held on Sunday, 26 July. For this Day,
Pope Francis sent his best wishes and support to the Catholic Church in England
and Wales.

The Apostolic Nuncio in Great Britain, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, received a letter and
conveyed it to the Bishop for Day for Life, Bishop John Sherrington, Auxiliary
of Westminster. In the letter, the Holy Father imparts his
apostolic blessing “upon
all those persons who are participating in this significant event and working
in any way for the promotion of the dignity of every human person from the
moment of conception until natural death”. This Sunday is the last of the
various initiatives of the Catholic Church in England regarding end of life
topics. The Bishops chose “Cherishing Life – Accepting
Death” as this year’s theme. Indeed, on 11 September the U.K.’s House of
Commons will be debating and voting on an assisted suicide bill. Presented by
Rob Marris, the bill proposes allowing terminally-ill the possibility of ending
their life with medical assistance.