Who are YOU in the eyes of God?

Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope

Pope Leo published his first papal encyclical last month titled, “Magnifica Humanitas.” He presents important theological ideas in this treatise on ‘magnificent humanity,’ beginning with the title.

Is humanity magnificent? Pulse Life Advocates certainly thinks so. 

But something like half of American voters apparently don’t agree and may take issue with the Holy See’s characterization. After all, Americans abort 17 babies out of every thousand pregnancies, adding up to 1.12 million clinical-provided abortions a year [SOURCE: Guttmacher Institute].

If humanity is truly magnificent, how could we allow such carnage? That’s why the Pope’s encyclical is timely. He focuses much of his treatise on technology, but sets it up with a basic understanding on who you are in the eyes of God in just a few, concise sentences:

Human rights are inviolable, since they are “inherent in the human person and in human dignity.”[67] 

Consequently, they are universal and inalienable. [68] 

Precisely because they are grounded in the common dignity of every man and woman, they have practical consequences and legal effects, for “it would be vain to proclaim human rights if, at the same time, everything were not done to ensure the duty of respecting them, respect by all, in all places and for all.” [69] 

Among these rights, the first is the right to life, from conception to its natural end, [70] without which it is impossible to exercise any other right. When this fundamental right is denied — as in the cases of induced abortion, killing of the innocent and euthanasia — we are faced with choices that the Church considers gravely wrong. [71]

Grave sins separate us from Christ. What can be worse than that?

So who are you in the eyes of God? His magnificent creation. Whether if you’re old and infirm … or young and vulnerable in your mom’s womb, you are magnificent according to our Christian faith and entitled to God-given rights, as Pope Leo summarizes above. 

YOU are His magnificent creation at every stage of your life: embryo, infant, toddler, adolescent, young adult, middle aged, elderly. God doesn’t discriminate based on your stage of human life. He loves you at each stage.

Much of the American public has been confused by anti-life politicians and abortion profiteers. Pope Leo simply restates timeless Church teachings on human rights, as expressed above.

These rights are eloquently expressed in our nation’s Declaration of Independence, a document very much in sync with the Catholic Church’s first American Pope.

In this year of America 250, an event in which Pulse proudly participates, Pope Leo proclaims the common dignity of man, God’s very own magnificent humanity.