While some were disappointed that Pope Francis did not mention abortion by name in his address to Congress, Pope Francis told the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, he said that standing up for human life was the primary reason for his visit to this country.

LifeNews is reporting on comments made by the Holy Father when he spoke to the bishops at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington DC on Wednesday.

“I appreciate the unfailing commitment of the Church in America to the cause of life and that of the family, which is the primary reason for my present visit,” he said.

The pontiff then listed “the innocent victim of abortion, children who die of hunger or from bombings, immigrants who drown in the search for a better tomorrow, the elderly or the sick who are considered a burden, the victims of terrorism, wars, violence and drug trafficking, the environment devastated by man’s predatory relationship with nature – at stake in all of this is the gift of God, of which we are noble stewards but not masters. . . . It is wrong, then, to look the other way or to remain silent,” he said.

“Ever present within each of them is life as gift and responsibility. The future freedom and dignity of our societies depends on how we face these challenges.”

Some pro-life advocates hoped the pope would pose more of a challenge to President Barack Obama who is the most pro-abortion president in U.S. history, but a Vatican spokesman said this kind of direct confrontation should not be expected.

“Such a confrontation would be surprising and out of character for a Pope who has made a reputation of actions speaking louder than words,” LifeNews reports.

Ambassador Ken Hackette, the president’s envoy to the Vatican, told Bloomberg Business that because of the differences on abortion, ‘‘I don’t think that’s where they are going to put all their energies when they sit down one-on-one.”

However, as Jim Geraghty of National Review pointed out, the pope’s actions thus far have spoken much louder than words. For example, Francis’ unscheduled visit to the Little Sisters of the Poor, who are being pressured by the Obama administration to pay for abortion-causing drugs, contraception and sterilization, spoke volumes.

It was not surprising when Vatican officials later confirmed that this visit was intended to send a message of support to the sisters in their battle against the oppressive mandate.

Francis also spoke out about abortion and a general disrespect for human life while addressing a group of religious in Cuba, imploring them to protect their “smallest” and most vulnerable members, including the unborn.

Later that evening, he said, “Children aren’t loved, they’re killed before being born. The elderly are thrown away, because they don’t produce. Some countries have euthanasia. But in some others there a hidden euthanasia. The youth is thrown away because they have no job opportunities.”

He also criticized prenatal testing that can detect fetal abnormalities and cause some parents to abort their babies.

If the primary reason for his trip to the U.S. is to stand up for human life, we are likely to hear much more from him on this subject as this visit unfolds.

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