In his very first inaugural Mass homily back in May last year, Pope Leo XIV said, “Let this be our first great desire: A united Church, a sign of unity and communion, becoming a ferment for a reconciled world.”
Then in November, for the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, he issued an apostolic letter called In Unitate Fidei, stressing that the Nicene Creed can be the basis for full Christian unity, and that what unites us is greater than what divides us. In that Creed, Christians weekly proclaim “The Lord and Giver of Life” attributed to God the Holy Spirit.
Leo even traveled to Nicea (Turkey) and signed a joint declaration with the Orthodox Patriarch, Bartholomew, saying they’re committed to walking together toward full communion. That begins with fundamentals, and an appeal acknowledging that more unites than divides us. Basic to that unity is the defense of all human life – conception to natural death. This joint declaration is a powerful tool to counter the street drama of rage bombarding the planet today.
Churches across denominations have historically played a role in advocating for the sanctity of human life, drawing from shared biblical principles like those in Psalm 139:13-14 or Jeremiah 1:5. Uniting on this issue—defending life from conception to natural death—requires intentional collaboration, overcoming doctrinal differences while focusing on common ground.
Churches can foster shared public statements affirming the intrinsic value of life. From that, encouraging homilies can easily draw upon unity in Christ’s plea and the sacrificial love He shed at Calvary tied to the unity binding couples disposed to celebrating new life as God bestows on them. Emphasize shared beliefs in imago Dei (humans made in God’s image), applying to all from Scripture and from natural law.
Next, spilling into action: Unity often starts at the parish level. Churches can co-host prayer services, such as 40 Days for Life campaigns, where participants from different congregations pray outside abortion facilities. They can pool resources to fund and staff centers that provide alternatives to abortion (e.g., ultrasound services, adoption counseling) or end-of-life care that rejects euthanasia.
And they can join in the events of the coming days. Within this year’s Christian Unity Octave, Priests for Life will bring together Christians of all denominations in several national pro-life events, the largest being the National Prayer Service at Constitution Hall (in Washington, DC) on the day of the March for Life, Friday, January 23rd.
The Lord is a Lord of Life, and differences between churches minimize when that call becomes a passionate drive within hearts.
Jesus’ call at the Last Supper, an intimate bearing of soul with His Apostles, prayed to the Father “that thy all be one.” And He added “so that the world may believe You sent me.” Watching city streets becoming theatres of rage makes this call crucial to our civilization, to say nothing about the need for the churches to align together to redirect the compass to unity in the most basic drive – the right to live and hopefully the response to defend the most threatened.
Let’s pick up the plow, seeding that we are made “in the Image and likeness of God” and were all baptized with the Holy Spirit, who infused supernatural Faith, Hope and Charity to tool us powerfully in proclaiming God’s Love to a world torn apart by a counter-spirit of self-love and b “throw-away” culture.
Unity will triumph in the end. Let us find it always in His Truth, showing us the way through defending life from conception to natural death.
Priests for Life’s Ending Abortion: A primer on why only the Church can end the evil of Abortion is a brand new, succinct, fresh compilation of the common questions that get to the spiritual power Christian churches have to drive out the demon of child avoidance in men and women. Order copies at ProLifeProducts.org
Fr. Denis Wilde, OSA, Ph.D., is a full-time pastoral associate for Priests for Life. A concert pianist, he was formerly an associate professor of music at Villanova University.
Your support brings the truth to the world.
Catholic Online News exists because of donors like you. We are 100% funded by people who believe the world deserves real, uncensored news rooted in faith and truth — not corporate agendas. Your gift ensures millions can continue to access the news they can trust — stories that defend life, faith, family, and freedom.
When truth is silenced, your support speaks louder.
