06/13/2026
Andrea Bocelli, a Catholic and Italian tenor, who performed the official anthem at the opening of the FIFA World Cup 2026, was once a baby doctors advised should be aborted.
When Bocelli's mother was pregnant with him, doctors warned that her baby would be born with a congenital condition that could lead to blindness and recommended an abortion. However, she refused and chose to give birth to her son.
Bocelli was born with congenital glaucoma and later lost his sight completely at the age of 12 following a head injury during a soccer game. Despite this profound challenge, he went on to become one of the world's most celebrated and influential singers, inspiring millions through his music and testimony to the dignity and value of every human life.