As hundreds of Canadian pro-lifers filled Parliament Hill in Ottawa this morning for the 2025 National March for Life, it wasn't long before rumblings of sightings of white smoke in Rome began to spread through the crowd.

Catholics in attendance soon shifted their focus to wondering who the next pontiff would be. As Ottawa-Cornwall Archbishop Marcel Damphousse spoke to the crowd, he first made sure to address their curiosity and confirm the gossip that was spreading.

“We do have white smoke in Rome as of this morning,” he said as the crowd erupted in cheers. “While we do not know who the new Pope is just yet, we can still, of course, pray for him.”

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As speakers such as Jeff Gunnarson, Alex Schadenberg, Debbie Duval, Emily Stimpson Chapman and Matt Wojciechowski continued to address the audience on the day’s theme and events, a sense of anticipation lingered in the nation’s capital.

As keynote speeches drew to a close and the rally’s march through downtown Ottawa was about to leave, Wojciechowski took the stage one more time to share the news many in attendance were waiting for.

“For all the Catholics here, I can confirm there is a new Pope,” the vice president of Campaign Life Coalition said. “Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, Leo XIV,” he said as cheers emitted from the crowded hill.

As the news broke at this year’s National March for Life event, organized by Campaign Life Coalition, many in attendance were not shy in sharing their thoughts on the newest Pope, even as shock from the recent news remained.

“I just pray that he is able to carry out his mission,” said Bruce Crishton of Brockville, Ont. “I can’t say I know too much about him, but from what I’ve heard, and in how short (of a time) it took, I can assume the right choice for the people has been made.”

Pope Leo XIV is the first North American to be elected pope and was the U.S. cardinal most mentioned as a potential successor of Pope Francis ahead of the conclave.

“My mother and I were on the car ride here to the March for Life and we were both really surprised as it was seemingly a really quick decision,” said Marcos, a young man attending the rally from Stouffville, Ont. “I was even more surprised to hear that he was a cardinal from Chicago.

“ Pope Francis was very progressive in the sense that he was moving forward and looking into changing things, and I feel like electing a pope from the U.S. kind of goes in line with this kind of new, modern Church that we live in, but I am interested to see what he brings.” 

“We are here on the grounds of the National March for Life, and so (Pope Leo XIV) must support this mission of protecting the unborn, I hope he will with passion,” said Stephanie Mendoza-King, from Ottawa.

“ He will need to able to respond to questions and doubts from the secular world that pushes against this, and I pray he is able to do that with wisdom, knowledge and compassion.”

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Despite the papal interruption, the March for Life continued on as the event marked its 28th anniversary in calling for recognizing human life from fertilization, challenging Canada’s lack of legal protections for the unborn, including calls for legislation to recognize human life in the womb and advocating for laws to protect the unborn.

The theme draws from a 2021 survey of over 5,000 biologists that found that 96 per cent agreed that life begins at fertilization. It also takes inspiration from Matthew 13: 31-32 — “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, yet when full-grown, it is the largest of plants.”

As Canada’s leading pro-life and pro-family organization, Campaign Life has grown the yearly march from 700 attendees in 1998 to a movement that unites thousands of Canadians of all ages and backgrounds each year on Parliament Hill. The event continues to serve as a foremost platform to demand justice for the more than 100,000 abortions in Canada annually and to oppose the rising deaths from euthanasia and medical assistance in dying (MAiD), which was legalized in 2016.

This year’s rally began at a packed Parliament Hill at 12:30 p.m., where attendees heard from political, cultural and spiritual leaders, sharing personal testimonies and urging for action in restoring a culture of life.

“ I wish we didn't have to be here, I wish we didn't have to march for life every year, but life is not protected in this building next to us,” Wojciechowski said, pointing at the Parliament buildings. “That is why we march, we are here today because this is the place where laws are created, policies are made and where people are elected to serve. Everyone in that building has a duty to legally protect children in the womb.

“ Shame on our Prime Minister for not doing anything about this, shame on every political leader who calls this killing a choice, and shame on every MP who supports the killing of God's precious children.” 

As Gunnarson, Campaign Life's national president, took the stage, he touched on the country’s recent election.

“As Mark Carney throws his elbows up, we defend the innocent,” he said, as stunned silence turned to applause.

“ While some are throwing elbows up to climb the political ladder, we are standing for the child in the womb, who has no legal protection in Canada. Let’s march boldly, pray fervently, speak courageously and let our leaders know elbows up won't cut it when what Canada needs is hearts changed and protection for the unborn from conception.”

Other speakers, such as Calvin Robinson and Schadenberg, emphasized Canada’s outlier status, where protection for human life begins only at birth, and practices like infanticide and MAiD remain permitted in some cases. Today’s march, they said, was a step toward changing that narrative.

At 1:30 p.m., participants began the event’s annaul march through downtown Ottawa, filling the streets with visual testimony, homemade signs and audible chants advocating for the unborn. The procession returned to Parliament Hill at approximately 2:30 p.m.

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Also notable was the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, with Michelle Lowe sharing a powerful testimony about her experience with abortion. The story moved many, reinforcing the rally’s message that human rights begin when life does — at conception.

This year’s rally launched a week of events under the National March for Life, including various Masses, the Songs for Life Coffee House, a candlelight vigil, the Rose Dinner gala, Friday’s youth summit and the inaugural Save the Babies leaders summit.