To the doctors participating in a
convention organized by the Italian Pro-Life Movement
HUMAN LIFE IS SACRED AND MUST BE PROTECTED
Saturday morning, 12
October, Pope John Paul II received in audience the doctors who had attended
the recent convention organized by the Italian Pro-Life Movement. The theme of the convention was “Protection
of the health of the expectant mother and of the fetus”.
In his address, the
Holy Father reaffirmed the Church's constant teaching on the sanctity of life
and urged the doctors to defend and foster the quality of life. The text of the Pontiff's address follows.
Distinguished Gentlemen, dear Brothers and Sisters!
1. I
am delighted to find myself among you today at the close of the “International
Medical Convention” sponsored by the “Italian Pro-Life Movement”, which has
taken place at Fiuggi Terme
in collaboration with distinguished representatives of the New Institute of
Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University “La Sapienza”
of Rome and of the Institute of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the
University of the Sacred Heart.
I
thank you for this welcome visit and express to you my satisfaction at the
choice of the theme. “Protection of the
health of the expectant mother and of the fetus”,
with which the presentations and discussions of this important convention of
yours were concerned.
Also, I am grateful for the opportunity you offer me to address you,
without entering into the specific merit of the questions you considered, on a
subject which is at the centre of the Church's attention and concern: namely, that of the defence of human
life. I have studied with interest the
detailed programme which the organizers of your conference so thoughtfully took
care to send to me. You have touched on
aspects of the life of the woman and of the unborn child which merit every
consideration, especially since, above and beyond scientific research, the
course of a pregnancy, or better, the story of a life which is beginning, finds
its raison d'etre
in the mysterious plan of God, who is the “Living One” par excellence (cf Dt
5:23; I Kg 17 1).
2.
It is auspicious to see united here for the promotion of the sacrosanct rights
of mother and child not only professionals who are inspired by the ideals
proclaimed by divine revelation and always championed by the Church, but also
those of a different cultural and ideological orientation. This shows how exalted, indeed unique and
unrepeatable, is the value of life. All
people, in fact, no matter what their cultural extraction, feel that this value
is fundamental and that no one can deny it without betraying the very cause of
man.
However, this reflection becomes even more demanding and exacting for a
person of the Bible, that is, for one who accepts the word of God as the norm
of life in the light of the Church's Magisterium. According to Christian revelation, man is not
the master of his own life, but receives the use of it; he is not its owner but
its administrator, since God alone is the Lord of life. In this regard the Old Testament expresses
itself in peremptory terms: “Of your blood, that is to say, of your life, I will demand an
account”, says the Lord, “I will demand an account of the life of man at the
hand of man, at the hand of every one of his brothers. If someone sheds the blood of a man, his own
blood will be shed by man. For in the
image of God has God made man” (Gen 9: 5-6).
A direct consequence of the divine origin of life is the fact that it is
not at one's free disposal, that it is untouchable, that it is sacred. “I, I alone am God and there is no other god
like me. It is I who bring death and
restore life, it is I who wound and heal and there is no one who can escape my
power” (Dt 32;39; Job
Such
sanctity of human life is clearly restated, always with different accents, in
the New Testament. To the rich young man
asking what are the chief commandments for “entering into life”, Jesus responds
by indicating “You shall not kill” as the first obligation (Mt
3.
Faithful to this biblical tradition, the Church has not ceased through the
centuries to work with all the means at its disposal to defend human life at
whatever moment in the existence of man and woman, in whatever situation they
find themselves. The Second Vatican
Council stated with particular vigour in this regard, “God, the Lord of life,
has entrusted to men the sublime mission of protecting life; a mission which must be fulfilled in a
humane manner. Consequently, human life
must be protected with the greatest care from the moment of its conception” (Gaudium et Spes, n. 51).
4.
Dear brothers and sister, in reaffirming these Christian principles, it is
comforting to know that the work of you doctors and students of the moral
problems connected with your profession is being carried out in this ideal
context. The convention which you have
just concluded, directed towards rendering a distinguished contribution to the
cause of an ever better human and Christian service to women and to unborn
children at such a delicate moment of their existence is proof of this. I hope that your meetings have also helped to
update the more specific aspects of your medical profession and to illuminate
ever better your responsibilities before the mystery of life, which you are
called to defend from every menace and to foster in its quality. I would like to hope also that the convention
has been of help to you in reacting to certain currents of opinion which seek
to influence the consciences of doctors, “to induce them” - as I said in other
circumstances - “to offer their services in practices contrary not only to
Christian ethics, in open contradiction to their professional moral obligation
expressed in the famous oath of the ancient pagan doctor” (Insegnamenti I, 1978, p. 457).
5.
Let not the difficulties which you will undoubtedly encounter in one way or
another discourage you in this responsibility of yours. In treating of the cause of man, no sacrifice
must be spared, nothing must be left unattempted. You who are
specialists in life, see to it that it flourishes or thrives again in every
person. Thus will you give back the
smile to those who have entrusted themselves to your care, and you will also
give glory to God, since, as Saint Irenaeus says,
“Living man is the glory of God” (Adv Haereses IV,
20, 7).
May the assurance of my prayer for you, which I gladly strengthen with my special blessing, assist you in your noble effort.