VATICAN - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI addresses participants at the Conference on the Human Genome : “May every new scientific discovery serve for the whole good of the person with respect for human dignity”

Saturday, 19 November 2005

Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Today, particularly in the field of new contributions from medical science, the Church has a chance to offer its precious work of illuminating consciences so that each new scientific discovery may serve for the whole good of the person with respect for human dignity”: Pope Benedict XVI said when this morning in the Clementina Hall he addressed participants at the 20th international conference organised by the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Health Care on the theme: "The Human Genome".
The Holy Father recalled that the world today is marked by a process of secularisation which besides demanding “autonomy for science and social organisation”, often “overlooks the need to safeguard the transcendent dignity of the human person and respect for human life”. Nevertheless today there are new spaces “for profitable dialogue with society and not only with believers on important matters such as those connected with life”.
This is possible because “in peoples of ancient Christian tradition there remain roots of humanism untouched by Nihilist philosophy, roots which in actual fact are all the grow stronger when challenged… even people who no longer consider themselves members of the Church or those who have lost even the light of the faith remain attached to the human values and the positive contributions offered by the Gospel for personal and social wellbeing”.
Referring to the Conference theme the Pope said “men and women of our day are well aware that the dignity of the human person cannot be identified with the genes of the DNA and it does not diminish in the event of some physical deficiency or genetic defect”. The principle of "non discrimination" on the basis of physical or genetic facts has taken deep root in consciences and is proclaimed in the Charter of Human Rights. “This principle has its most authentic foundation in the innate dignity of every person created in the image and likeness of God. Moreover impartial examination of scientific facts leads to recognition of the presence of this dignity at every stage of human life from the moment of conception … We must be aware of the hazards of science and technology which claim total autonomy with regard to the moral norms inscribed in human nature”.
The exist Catholic bodies of professionals and Academies “able to evaluate new scientific discoveries, particularly in the field of bio-medicine”, besides “doctrinal bodies specifically delegated to define moral values to be safeguarded and formulate norms necessary for their effective protection” as well as pastoral offices such as the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care “charged with elaborating opportune ways of guaranteeing an effective presence of the Church at the pastoral level”. With regard to the latter the Pope stressed its importance in view of ever more adequate humanisation of medicine to guarantee a timely response to individual expectations for effective spiritual assistance. “New impulse must be given to health pastoral care. This calls for an in-depth revision of pastoral care which must now take into account the increased volume of information diffused by the media in society and the higher level of instruction of the people for whom it caters”.
Lastly the Pope encouraged those present to “update the formation of clergy and educators to render them capable of assuming their responsibilities in coherence with the faith and with respectful dialogue with non believers”. Therefore to provide “in-depth and detailed formation” in the field of health pastoral care it is necessary to have well trained and competent formation staff. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 19/11/2005, righe 45, parole 618)


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