The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has welcomed the ruling by the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that protected the right to an abortion.

The landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling recognised a woman's constitutional right to an abortion and legalized it nationwide

“This is a historic day in the life of our country, one that stirs our thoughts, emotions and prayers. For nearly fifty years, America has enforced an unjust law that has permitted some to decide whether others can live or die; this policy has resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of preborn children, generations that were denied the right to even be born." the USCCB said in a statement.

The statement, signed by USCCB President Archbishop José Gomez and pro-life Committee chair Archbishop William Lori, goes on to note that Roe v Wade, “which legalized and normalized the taking of innocent human life,” marked a “grievous” denial of the truth that all men and women are created equal, with God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

“America was founded on the truth that all men and women are created equal, with God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This truth was grievously denied by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized and normalized the taking of innocent human life. We thank God today that the Court has now overturned this decision. We pray that our elected officials will now enact laws and policies that promote and protect the most vulnerable among us." the statement added.

After thanking God for Friday’s decision, the Bishops appeal to elected officials to “enact laws and policies that promote and protect the most vulnerable among us.”

In their statement, the Bishops also mourned the loss of “the little ones whose lives have been taken since 1973,” while expressing their closeness to “every woman and man who has suffered grievously from abortion,” assuring them of their prayers for healing and pledging their compassion and support.

The Bishops praised the work of “millions” of Americans who have "worked together peacefully to educate and persuade their neighbors about the injustice of abortion, to offer care and counseling to women, and to work for alternatives to abortion, including adoption, foster care, and public policies that truly support families.”

The USCCB pledged “to continue our service to God’s great plan of love for the human person, and to work with our fellow citizens to fulfill America’s promise to guarantee the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people.”

Vatican welcome U.S Supreme Court Ruling

The Vatican's Academy for Life joined the U.S Bishops in praising the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on abortion, saying it challenged the world to reflect on life issues, but also called for social changes to help women keep their children.

The Pontifical Academy for Life said governments should enact policies that "favor life without falling into a priori ideological positions".

This includes "ensuring adequate sexual education, guaranteeing health care accessible to all and preparing legislative measures to protect the family and motherhood, overcoming existing inequalities."

The President of the Pontifical Academy, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, said: “In the face of Western society that is losing its passion for life, this act is a powerful invitation to reflect together on the serious and urgent issue of human generativity and the conditions that make it possible; by choosing life, our responsibility for the future of humanity is at stake."