I was struck by how prevalent the themes of “mercy” and “healing” were. In my experience of it (both the march itself and some surrounding events), the crowd was overwhelmingly concerned with saving lives, helping those who are hurting, and hoping that those on the other side of the debate might reconsider. Anger and despair were hard to find. Smiling faces were all around. I can’t remember the last time I was wall-to-wall with people for a few hours and did not hear one foul word or see one inappropriate incident among young people (in fact: I even experienced both in the Catacombs in Rome last year!)

Anyway, a little more about what I saw at the march here.