Faith, Fidelity, and Life: The First “Time for Love” Weeks Before Warsaw’s National March for Life

“Time for Love”—a week of pro-life and pro-family events in Warsaw

Last week and the week before, the first edition of the “Time for Love” initiative took place—a unique series of events dedicated to the protection of life, marriage, and family, organized in Warsaw. This initiative preceded this year’s National March for Life. Some of the events were organized by the Ordo Iuris Institute and the Center for Life and Family.

Inaugural debate: the phenomenon of pro-life marches

The series opened with the debate “Are pro-life marches necessary?“—which took place at the Agere Contra café in Warsaw. Those who took part included, among others, Lidia Klempis—initiator of the Marches for the Sanctity of Life; Lidia Sankowska-Grabczuk—co-organizer of the National March for Life; and Paweł Kwaśniak—director of social campaigns at the Ordo Iuris Institute and the Center for Life and Family, and a longtime coordinator of local Marches for Life and Family across Poland. Participants in the meeting analyzed, among other things, the impact of turnout at marches on politicians’ decisions, citing the example of the 2024 National March for Life as a force that effectively halted the advancement of bills expanding access to abortion.

The rosary in defense of life

Another event was a rosary prayer vigil for the protection of life outside the “Abotak” abortion facility in Warsaw. This prayer was being held for the second time. Such prayers will be further held every month at the same location.

Screening of the film “Oraz że Cię nie opuszczę” (And that I will never leave you)

The screening of the film „Oraz że Cię nie opuszczę”, produced by the Center for Life and Family in cooperation with the Sychar Difficult Marriages Community, took place at the Stańczyk Club in Warsaw. The film tells the stories of married couples who, despite serious crises and the risk of their relationships breaking up, remained faithful to their spouses. The special guests were the subjects of the documentary, who shared moving testimonies of faithfulness. Meeting participants emphasized that the heroes’ attitudes are marked by courage and an inner peace that comes from faith.

Premiere of the film “I Am Free. I Am Pro-Life”

At Warsaw’s Multikino G City Reduta, a premiere took place of the documentary “I Am Free. I am pro-life” directed by Michał Król, produced in cooperation with the Center for Life and Family, the Ordo Iuris Institute, and the Fr. Piotr Skarga Association for Christian Culture. The film depicts the activities of pro-life movements in Poland and the United States, and its central figure is a well-known Polish pro-life activist, Bawer Aondo-Akaa, who seeks an answer to the question of how to make pro-life advocacy appealing to the younger generation. Organizing the premiere wasn’t without difficulties—several movie theaters refused to screen the film. After the screening, a debate was held with the filmmakers and pro-life activists.

Conference on the demographic crisis

The Ordo Iuris Institute organized a conference at the Stańczyk Club, “Marriage, parenthood, or loneliness?—between culture, economics, and demography,” which brought together experts in the fields of psychology, theology, sociology, and law, including members of the Council for Family and Demography at the President of the Republic of Poland. The speakers agreed that the causes of the low fertility rate go deeper than economic factors and lie in a crisis of values and a culture of individualism.

National March for Life

The “Time for Love” initiative culminated with the National March for Life, which marched through the streets of Warsaw under the slogan “Faith and Fidelity 966–2026,” referring to the 1060th anniversary of the Baptism of Poland. Outside the Presidential Palace, the President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, welcomed the participants, emphasizing that the march is a response to a profound demographic crisis. Marcin Perłowski, director of the Center for Life and Family and vice president of Ordo Iuris, pointed out that the March is a clear signal of opposition to the abortion bills planned in the Sejm. The Center for Life and Family and the Ordo Iuris Institute were partners of the event.