"It is in Europe that for the very first time the concept of human rights was formulated", and "the fundamental human right, the prerequisite of all the other rights, is the right to life itself. This applies to life from its conception to its natural end". Today, the first day of his apostolic journey to Austria, in making an appeal for the defence of life, the Pope mentioned "Europe’s ability to be self-critical", which "in the wide scenario of the cultures of the world distinguishes and qualifies it", and exhorted once again our Continent not to miss out on its Christian roots. "Abortion cannot be a human right it is the opposite", warned Benedict XVI: "it is a ‘deep social wound’, as highlighted by our deceased Brother, Cardinal Franz König". "In saying this, we do not express a merely ecclesial interest", immediately specified the Pontiff: "Rather, we advocate a deeply human request and speak on behalf of the unborn children who have no voice".
