GOALS, METHODS, MEANS OF RESEARCH MUST RESPECT HUMAN DIGNITY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 24, 2003 (VIS) - Participants in the Ninth General Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life were received this morning by the Holy Father at the start of their three-day meeting in the Vatican's Old Synod Hall. The 160 participants, including Academy President Juan de Dios Vial Correa and Vice President, Bishop Elio Sgreccia, are studying the theme "Ethics of Biomedical Research in a Christian Vision."

The Pope reminded his listeners that he created the Pontifical Academy for Life "to study, form and inform about the principal problems of biomedicine and law, relative to the promotion and defense of life, above all in the direct relationship they have with Christian morality and the directives of the Magisterium of the Church."

The Pope underscored the notable advances made in scientific research and medicine, in particular in defeating epidemics, improving cures for illnesses and thus "significantly improving, in many areas of the developed world, the length and quality of life." He expressed the Church's gratitude to scientists in the field of biomedicine, saying "many times the Magisterium has asked for their help in solving delicate moral and social problems."

He then referred to Pope Paul VI's appeal to researchers and scientists in the Encyclical "Humanae Vitae" to contribute "'to the good of the family and marriage,' seeking to 'clarify more in depth the diverse conditions that favor an honest regulation of human procreation'. I make this invitation my own, underlining its permanent actuality, that becomes even more acute with the growing urgency to find 'natural' solutions to the problem of conjugal infertility."

"I renew my heartfelt appeal," John Paul II stated, "that scientific and biomedical research, while avoiding every temptation to manipulate man, be faithfully dedicated to exploring ways and resources to support human life, the cure of illnesses and solutions to the ever new problems in the biomedical field." He emphasized that "the Church respects and supports scientific research when it pursues an authentically humanistic orientation, fleeing from every form of exploitation or destruction of the human being and keeping itself free from the slavery of political and economic interests."

The Pope stressed that "not only the goals, but also the methods and means of research must always be respectful of the dignity of every human being, at whatever stage of their development and in every phase of experimentation."

He exhorted researchers to be aware of the limits, beyond which they cannot go in caring for the life, integrity and dignity of every human being. "I am convinced," he affirmed, "that no one, much less the Church, is allowed to be silent in the face of certain results or pretexts of experimentation on man." He asked Catholic institutions and universities to fully live out and live up to what the name "Catholic" represents.

The Holy Father concluded his lengthy remarks by highlighting the "growing urgency to fill the very serious and unacceptable chasm that separates the developing world from the developed world as far as the capacity to advance in biomedical research, thus benefitting health care and supporting populations afflicted by misery and disastrous epidemics ... such as AIDS."

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