The mobilization had the support of the Slovak Episcopal Conference and received a greeting from Pope Leo XIV.
Families, young people and people from different regions of the country filled the streets of the center of the Slovak capital in a call that had among its main demands the protection of unborn children, support for pregnant women in difficulty and the prohibition of surrogacy.
Up to 30,000 participants
According to the news agency of the Slovak Episcopal Conference, the organizers estimated participation at up to 30,000 people. The march started from Freedom Square and went through different streets in the center of Bratislava before returning to the starting point.
The event was preceded by masses and liturgical celebrations in various churches in the capital, with the participation of the country’s bishops, and continued with interventions by Slovak and foreign guests before the start of the march.
“There are moments we can be proud of as a nation, when we have acted justly and stood on the right side of history. Among those moments are also the National Marches for Life,” said Patrik Daniška, main coordinator of the event.
The organizers presented the mobilization as a defense of the right to life of every person “from conception until natural death” and called for concrete measures to improve the legal protection of unborn children and help mothers and families going through difficult situations.
Leo XIV greets the participants
The march also received a greeting from Pope Leo XIV, transmitted to the participants by the apostolic nuncio in Slovakia, Monsignor Nicola Girasoli.
The event was held under the patronage of the Slovak Episcopal Conference. Its secretary general, Father Ivan Ružička, explained that the objective is not limited to demanding protection for children before birth, but also includes concrete help for mothers and families in need.
“Our message is simple: every human life has dignity and must be protected. We want to protect especially children who have not yet been born. But we also want to help concretely mothers and families in difficulty,” Ružička pointed out.
Against surrogacy
One of the specific objectives of this year’s edition was to demand that the prohibition of surrogacy be expressly developed in Slovak legislation.
“A child is not a product and cannot be the object of a contract. That is why we ask that surrogacy be completely banned in Slovakia,” said the secretary general of the episcopate.
The demand is related to the constitutional reform approved last year in the country. The organizers want several of its provisions to now have concrete legislative development, including the prohibition of surrogacy, parental consent in matters related to sex education and provisions regarding biologically determined sex.
The National March for Life celebrated its fifth edition this year. The previous ones took place in Košice in 2013 and 2024 and in Bratislava in 2015 and 2019. The initiative is organized by the civil association National March for Life under the patronage of the Slovak Episcopal Conference.