On February 26, while admitted to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Pope Francis penned a message—not to the faithful, but to leaders in the fields of science and medical research who were to gather at the Vatican. The message spoke about the poly-crisis the world faces, from war to epidemics, and was addressed to the participants of the General Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life, held in Rome from March 3 to 5, on the theme: 'The End of the World? Crises, Responsibilities, Hopes'. “To avoid remaining immobile, anchored in our certainties, habits and fears, is to listen carefully to the contribution of areas of scientific knowledge,” wrote the Pope.
While the Catholic Church was a patron of learning, its relationship with science was complex and at times adversarial, especially when scientific ideas challenged the Church's doctrine. However, popes in the 20th century took steps to change that perception and foster a constructive dialogue. Pope Francis took this engagement to the next level by actively promoting scientific research, particularly in advanced medical fields and bioethics.
Francis reformed the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAV) by expanding its research horizons beyond traditional bioethical concerns (such as abortion and euthanasia) to a more global and integrative perspective and issues from geriatric care to data privacy. In March, in his message for the inaugural Vatican Longevity Summit, he reaffirmed a consistent theme in his bioethical vision: the call for renewed care for older adults and the promotion of a culture that views ageing not as decline, but as blessing.
He pushed PAV and other scientific bodies to be “cultural laboratories” for interdisciplinary dialogue on contemporary scientific and bioethical challenges. On many occasions Francis called for a balance between protecting health data privacy and fostering data sharing for the common good. He also called for equitable access to healthcare innovations and asserted the principle of justice as an integral part of bioethics. Notably, he also advocated strongly for a comprehensive global bioethics framework that takes into consideration environmental and social concerns.
Under Francis, the Vatican hosted many international conferences on regenerative medicine and stem cell research, focusing on adult stem cell therapies. These events brought together scientists, physicians, patients and policymakers. He also called for cutting-edge stem cell treatments to be made available to all, including the poor and those in developing countries, highlighting the importance of solidarity, generosity and the sharing of scientific knowledge. Notably, Francis did this even while maintaining the Catholic Church’s traditional opposition towards research and therapies that involve harm to human embryos and embryonic stem cells.
Francis appointed leading scientists to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences to encourage interdisciplinary research. Remarkably, just a month before his death, he named five new members to the academy: a planetary scientist involved in multiple NASA missions, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, a Chinese biologist specialising in embryonic research, a molecular geneticist and an environmental scientist.