CRANBERRY TWP — Rick Santorum, a former U.S. senator, told students and guests Friday at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School that every life is a gift and should be celebrated.

Santorum’s talk at the school was one of a number of appearances he is making to promote his recently released book “Bella’s Gift.” Co-authored with his wife, Karen, the book tells the story of their daughter Bella, who has Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards Syndrome.

Santorum said he is on a tour promoting the book and sharing his message of respecting the dignity of human life. He not only shares an anti-abortion message, but a message that people who are ill, aging or living with a chronic condition should be respected and celebrated.

He said he has yet to decide on whether he will run in 2016 for the Republican nomination for president. He ran for that nomination in 2012.

“We’re going to make a decision this spring or summer. We’re going to be out testing our message and seeing if there are people who would support me, both financially and by voting for us,” he said.

He noted that there are 20 potential candidates for the GOP nomination, though the list just got shorter when Mitt Romney said he would not run again.

Regarding his book and his daughter, the Santorum family was told in 2008 that Bella, who now is 6, would not live more than a couple of months.

Trisomy 18 is a disorder where the cells in the body have two extra 18th chromosomes. Only 1 percent of children diagnosed with the disorder survive until their first birthday due to abortion or complications after birth, he said.

She has lived far longer than expected, which the family considers to be a gift that they treasure every day.

“She is a miracle by every stretch of the word,” he said. Bella is unable to walk, talk, feed herself or do much on her own. But that does not mean her life is not important, he said.

“The only thing Bella can do for me is what she does — she loves me, that’s it. That’s all Bella can do,” he said.

“She loves being loved, and she loves back. That’s all Bella’s life is about. It’s that simple.”

He said that all children should be given a chance at life. He noted that in Japan 50 percent of children with the disorder live to their first birthday because they are not aborted like many in the United States are.

Santorum was a U.S. senator from 1995 to 2007.

He lived in Butler for 10 years during his youth, while his parents worked at the federal Veteran’s Administration facility in Butler Township.

While living in Butler, he attended Butler Catholic School and Butler High School.

He told the students that they are blessed to have a state-of-the-art Catholic high school to attend. His children all have attended Catholic high schools after being home schooled for grade school.

“Education is not just about academics. It is about forming and shaping your moral compass and your world view,” he said.

He also warned the students that many colleges across the country will challenge and test their Catholic beliefs rather than nurture them.

“Sixty-five percent of kids that go to college with a faith conviction leave without it,” he said.

North Catholic Principal Ann Gaudino said Santorum’s visit to the school was coordinated by one of its alumni.

Santorum was presented with flowers and a Cardinal Wuerl sweat shirt by a student.