Bratislava hosts National March for Life with 30,000 participants

Approximately 30,000 people gathered in Bratislava for the fifth National March for Life on September 20, 2026. Organized under the patronage of the Slovak Bishops’ Conference, the event featured speeches, music, and a procession through the city streets starting from Freedom Square.

A central demand of this year's march was the implementation of a complete legal ban on surrogacy, seeking to translate the existing constitutional prohibition into specific legislation. Organizers and participants, including representatives from the KDH political party, advocated for the protection of human life from conception to natural death and called for increased support for women and families in difficult circumstances.

Pope Leo XIV sent a special message to the participants, which was delivered by Apostolic Nuncio Nicola Girasoli. The Pope encouraged the assembly to be a moment of prayer and testimony that awakens awareness of the gift of life and promotes a culture of care for the most vulnerable and defenseless members of society.