To an
international group of scientists
MEDICAL RESEARCH NEEDS GUIDANCE
OF MORAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUES
On Friday, 27 April,
the Holy Father received in audience about 200 participants in the
International Symposium sponsored by the National Foundation for Cancer
Research and addressed them as follows:
Dear
Friends,
1.
It is an honour and a pleasure for me to welcome to the
Meaning of suffering
2.
Several months ago, I issued an Apostolic Letter on the Christian meaning of
human suffering. In that document I
sought to bring the light of Christ to that experience which is an essential
part of every person's life. In addition
to my desire to help people find meaning in the mysterious face of suffering, I
also wished to draw attention in gratitude
to those, like yourselves who are particularly sensitive to the sufferings of
others, and who strive to offer not only sympathy and compassion but concrete
efforts to alleviate those sufferings.
In this regard, I stated: “How
much there is of the “Good Samaritan” in the profession of the doctor, or the
nurse, or others similar! Considering
its “evangelical” content, we are inclined to think here of a vocation rather
than simply a profession. And the
institutions which from generation to generation have performed “Good
Samaritan” service have developed and specialized even further in our times.
This undoubtedly proved that people today pay ever greater and closer attention
to the sufferings of their neighbour, seek to understand those sufferings and
deal with them with ever greater skill. They also have an ever greater capacity
and specialization in this area. In view
of all this, we can say that the parable of the Samaritan of the Gospel has
become one of the essential elements of
moral culture and universally human civilization. And thinking of all those who by their knowledge
and ability provide many kinds of service to their suffering neighbour, we
cannot but offer them words of thanks and gratitude” (Salvifici
Doloris, 29).
Unity of body and
spirit
For
years, medical research has required the adoption of methods of advanced
specialization in order to pursue new
discoveries. More recently, an interdisciplinary
approach has been increasingly needed, one which encompasses the insights
provided by various fields of knowledge, such as medicine, biology, chemistry,
physics, mathematics and so forth. All
of this points to a need for greater dialogue and collaborations among the men
and women of the different sciences.
Together with this, more and more scientists and researchers feel the
importance of placing the results of their research within a wider social and
cultural context and of giving due consideration to the moral principles and
spiritual values which are associated with new discoveries. Your desire to meet the Pope on the occasion
of this International Symposium shows your own sensitivity to these dimensions.
Medical research, and indeed all scientific study, needs the support and
guidance of spiritual and moral values. For such research is ultimately intended for
the good of the whole person, even if the immediate aim is the treatment of
certain tissues or organs of the body. A
deep unity exists between the body and the spirit, a unity which is so
substantial that the most spiritual activity is affected by the bodily
condition, and the body itself achieves its proper and final purpose only when
directed by the spirit. I would
therefore like to offer encouragement to all those who are promoting an
interdisciplinary approach to cancer research and other medical problems, and I
would urge that there be included in this approach the wisdom which is found in
the spiritual heritage of the human family.
I assure you, in this regard, of the great interest of the Catholic
Church in your research, and of a readiness to dialogue and to share with you
the spiritual and ethical traditions of the Christian faith.
4.
The interdisciplinary nature of science today has also involved an internationalization among those
carrying out research. This is clearly
seen in your present Symposium. And it
is a hopeful sign of an increasing spirit of brotherhood and fruitful
cooperation among men and women of good will from all nations. I pray that your successes and achievements
will, in a similar way, bring hope and assistance not only to a fortunate few
but to people throughout the world.
Ladies and gentlemen, yours is indeed a noble and vitally important
task. May God grant you joy and strength
in your work, and may he bless you and your families with his rich and abiding
peace.