FAITH AND SCIENCE AT THE SERVICE OF LIFE AND HUMAN DIGNITY

VATICAN CITY, MAR 27, 1999 (VIS) - In his meeting today with the board of directors of the World Federation of Scientists, the Pope highlighted the importance for faith and science, once the misunderstandings of the past are overcome, "to open up to ever deeper reciprocal understanding, at the service of life and human dignity."

Having underscored the scientific progress of this century, he said that "a cultural factor particularly emerges from this, ... which mainly consists in a new vision of science, characterized by the end of the 'myth of progress', according to which science would have been able to resolve all problems of people in a short period of time."

Another factor, said the Holy Father, is the "economic aspect." For the technological application of some discoveries "enormous sums of money are spent, and this (in turn) provokes justified concern for its use and the validity of its projects. Finally, the political dimension of science is of capital importance, for the consequences it has for the building of peace."

John Paul II concluded by emphasizing the need to carry out "suitable projects which, involving scientific volunteer work and the responsible cooperation of cultural, economic and political factors, might contribute to drawing up plans whose aim is to protect creation and benefit authentic human development."

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