His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI gave a special greeting to pro-life leaders from across Europe following his Sunday Angelus message and reminded the world that the first of all rights is the right to life. The delegates were in Rome on the occasion of the presentation of the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Prize for Life which was awarded this year to the memory of  Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare movement.

You can read the Pope's message, translated from the original Italian, here:

“Dear Friends, I am very happy to welcome today representatives of Pro Life Organisations from many European Countries, on the occasion of the presentation of the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Prize for Life, awarded this year to the memory of Chiara Lubich. On the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights we remember that the first of all rights is the right to life. I wish you every blessing in your work.”

European delegates were in Rome on the occasion of the prize-giving ceremony; amongst those present from the United Kingdom and Ireland were Lord Nicholas Windsor (Dignitatis Humanae Institute) and Josephine Quintavalle (ProLife Alliance). Other delegates were Andrew Marsh (Christian Concern), Bernadette Smyth (Precious Life), Tim Jackson (Youth Defence) and David Kerr, a Scottish journalist. 

You can view His Holiness delivering his message here.