Pope calls for commitment to protect life as he doubles down on abortion in New Year's Day message

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis ushered in the New Year with a renewed appeal for the faithful to reject abortion, calling for a “firm commitment” to protect and respect life from conception to natural death.

Francis, 88, celebrated a New Year’s Day Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday that was dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

In his homily, he prayed that everyone learns to care for “every child born of a woman” and to protect “the precious gift of life: life in the womb, the lives of children, the lives of the suffering, the poor, the elderly, the lonely and the dying.”

“I ask for a firm commitment to respect the dignity of human life from conception to natural death, so that each person may cherish his or her own life and all may look with hope to the future,” he said, using the terminology of the church's opposition to abortion and euthanasia.

In recent years, the Argentine Jesuit has been speaking out more emphatically about abortion than he did at the start of his pontificate. After two doctrinaire popes, Francis complained in the first months of his papacy in 2013 that the church had become obsessed by “small-minded rules” about hot-button issues such as abortion.

Francis now regularly refers to procuring an abortion as “hiring a hitman to solve a problem.”

He recently sparked outrage in Belgium when he criticized its abortion law as “homicidal” and announced he wanted to beatify Belgium's late king who abdicated for a day rather than approve legislation legalizing the procedure. The Vatican recently announced that the beatification process is under way for King Baudouin, who died in 1993.

The morning Mass marked the final big event of Francis' busy Christmas schedule. For the pope, who suffers from recurrent respiratory problems, this year's season was even more challenging with the start of the Vatican's big Holy Year, a once-every-quarter-century celebration of the faith that is expected to bring 32 million pilgrims to Rome during 2025.

Speaking to pilgrims who gathered in a sun-filled St. Peter's Square, Francis recalled the Jubilee's central message of the need to forgive debts. He again called for world leaders from wealthy countries to eliminate or reduce the debts owed by poorer countries.

Francis urged Christian leaders, in particular, “to provide a good example” by taking the lead to forgive debts.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Pope Francis appears at his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's Square at The Vatican to bless pilgrims and faithful after presiding over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis kisses a wooden statuette of the infant Jesus at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis kisses a wooden statuette of the infant Jesus at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis leaves at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis appears at his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's Square at The Vatican to bless pilgrims and faithful after presiding over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

A Christmas tree decoration reflects St. Peter's Square at The Vatican when Pope Francis appeared at his studio's window overlooking the square to bless pilgrims and faithful after presiding over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis appears at his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's Square at The Vatican to bless pilgrims and faithful after presiding over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis appears at his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's Square at The Vatican to bless pilgrims and faithful after presiding over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis appears at his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's Square at The Vatican to bless pilgrims and faithful after presiding over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis appears at his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's Square at The Vatican to bless pilgrims and faithful after presiding over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Faithful and a pontifical Swiss guard follow Pope Francis presiding over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Bishops follow Pope Francis presiding over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Faithful and a pontifical Swiss guard follow Pope Francis presiding over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis presides over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis delivers his homily during a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis presides over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis is flanked by Vatican Head Master of Ceremonies, Bishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, right, and Master of Ceremonies, Bishop Krysztof Marcjanowicz as he presides over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis presides over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis delivers his homily during a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis is flanked by Vatican Head Master of Ceremonies, Bishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, right, and Master of Ceremonies, Bishop Krysztof Marcjanowicz as he presides over a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican on New Year's Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Moments before being doused with a five-gallon tub of mayonnaise, Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck shouted “make it a double!"

Then the 44-year-old coach strapped on a Duke's Mayo Bowl necktie and — with his players watching and chanting “Mayo! Mayo!" — was drenched on a chilly 40-degree night, a celebration that has become part of the game tradition.

“I told our players if they had 15 tubs of those, I would have done all 15," Fleck said. "It's worth it to be a champion at the end of the year.”

Max Brosmer threw for 211 yards and a touchdown, Darius Taylor ran for 113 yards a TD and also threw for a score and the Golden Gophers extended their bowl winning streak to eight with a 24-10 victory over Virginia Tech on Friday night.

Elijah Spencer had six catches for 81 yards and two TDs for Minnesota (8-5) and was selected the game's MVP after returning to Charlotte, where he played two seasons for the 49ers.

“It was big time because I didn't think I would have another opportunity to play in front of all of my friends and family,” Spencer said. "A lot of friends and family haven't seen me play since I went to Minnesota, so being able to play in my backyard, hey, why not?'

Said Fleck: "It's a little ironic. And it's a fitting end to his career. He had two really great years with us."

For Fleck it was another victorious bowl victory — his sixth in a row at Minnesota.

“In the era 2024-25 is it really difficult to build a team and connect a team, but it is way easier when you have a group of men like these guys," Fleck said.

Backup quarterback Collins Schlee ran for a touchdown and Ayden Greene had six catches for 115 yards for the Hokies (6-7). They’ve lost five of their last six bowl games.

The Golden Gophers outgained the Hokies 403-223.

Schlee and William Watson split time at quarterback for Virginia Tech, with neither eclipsing 100 yards passing.

The Hokies failed to pick up a first down in three series under Watson, so coach Brent Pry switched to Schlee on the and he provided instance offense with a 67-yard strike to Greene to set up his own 3-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.

But the Hokies couldn't sustain the momentum.

Minnesota rattled of 21 consecutive points in the second quarter behind Spencer, who hauled in a 10-yard halfback option pass from Taylor and a 12-yard TD toss from Brosmer over the middle on back-to-back possessions. Taylor then made it 21-7 when he raced around left end on a 28-yard run.

With Minnesota up 24-10, Dante Lovett intercepted Brosmer’s to give the Hokies the ball at the Minnesota 15 and a last chance at a comeback midway through the fourth quarter. But the Hokies couldn’t convert as Za’Quan Bryan intercepted Watson’s pass in the end zone, essentially sealing the game with 4:24 remaining.

“Offensively, we got in the red zone and we couldn't score," Pry said. “We get down there and we have to score.”

Minnesota: It took a while for the Golden Gophers to get going, but three touchdowns in the second quarter proved to be the difference. “It’s one of the great traditions of bowl games and I hope we never ever go away from bowl games," Fleck said of the mayo bath. ""I think it is what makes college bowl games special.”

Virginia Tech: The Hokies came in with 14 new starters — seven on each side of the ball — after several players either opted out or entered the transfer portal leading up to the game. “I'm hopeful and encouraged about where we are at,” Pry said.

Virginia Tech's John Love made a bowl-record 60-yard field goal at the end of the first half.

Word leaked out during the game that there was a celebrity serving as “Tubby,” the bowl game's mascot which resembles a large yellow-and-white mayonnaise jar. It turns out to be hip-hop artist Flavor Flav, with his identity being revealed shortly after the game. He also helped with the mayo pour.

Pry received a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct in the second quarter when he raced down the sideline to about the 15 — well outside of the coach's box — to argue a call with the officials. "We are going to fight for every inch and I thought there were couple of calls I thought were missed," Pry said.

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Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck, center, receives the mayo dump after winning the Duke's Mayo Bowl NCAA college football game against Virginia Tech, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Robert Simmons)

Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck, center, receives the mayo dump after winning the Duke's Mayo Bowl NCAA college football game against Virginia Tech, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Robert Simmons)