Vatican City, Jan 24, 2013 / 16:04 pm

The president of the Pontifical Council for the Family has written to several U.S. bishops to express his support for the pro-life events this week surrounding the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

"Please accept my most sincere expression of solidarity and my promise of prayers as you prepare for the National Prayer Vigil and Masses for Life, and the Fortieth Annual March for Life," wrote Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia on Jan. 23.

"I want to assure you of the full support that the Pontifical Council for the Family stands ready to provide to the goals that underlie the Vigil and the March, one of the Council's principal tasks indeed being the 'encouragement, support and coordination of activities in defense of life from the moment of conception,'" he said in his letter, sent to Cardinals Timothy Dolan and Sean O'Malley, and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn.

Archbishop Paglia recounted how 25 years ago, "as a younger priest," he was able to participate in the March for Life.

"That memory gives me great hope that the prayers and commitment of your brother bishops and of the clergy, religious and lay faithful in America will one day soon ensure that all human life is welcomed and nurtured with the love to which its very nature entitles it."

From coast to coast, pro-life marches and rallies in America continue to mark the week of Jan. 22 as the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade – the Supreme Court decision that effectively legalized abortion throughout the nation. San Francisco's Walk for Life West Coast on Jan. 26 will be attended by Archbishop Carlo Viganò, nuncio to the United States.

The March for Life in Washington, D.C. will occur Jan. 25 and is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of participants.

Bishop Carrasco de Paula, head of the Pontifical Academy for Life, told CNA Jan. 23 that "These marches for life that are taking place across the United States are very important, not only for the country, but for the whole world."

"These events which favor human life without limits, from conception until the end, have become a very important historical reference for all other Catholic countries worldwide," he added.

"And if we talk about the Vatican as another face of the Church, then we can say the Church supports these marches in the whole world because the participants are the Church themselves."