Pope Benedict XVI's address to the Pontifical Academy for Life.

(February 13, 2010) “The recognition of human dignity, indeed, as inalienable right, has its foundation in the first law is not written by human hands, but written by God the Creator in the human heart, and that every legal system is required to recognize it as inviolable and that each person is obliged to respect and promote,” said Pope Benedict XVI. He was addressing the Pontifical Academy for Life, in Rome on Saturday, 13^th of February. The Pontifical Academy for Life is a Roman Catholic Church institution founded in 1994 and dedicated to promoting the Church's consistent life ethic. It also does related research on bioethics and Catholic moral theology. The Pope added that when we are faced with issues on Bioethics, they touch crucial situations to human life in their perpetual tension between immanence and transcendence, and that have great significance for the culture of future generations, so as to build the relationship between faith and reason. The Pontiff then explained that the issues of bioethics bring to the forefront the emphasis to human dignity, in the context of our faith in Jesus Christ Crucified and Risen. However, the Pope said that combining the natural moral law and bioethics can best ensure the necessary and unavoidable reminder of the dignity of human life that is inherent from the first instant of life unto its natural end. But he explained that in today's context, we notice that these rights are not always recognized in their natural development. Besides history has shown what can be dangerous and damaging is that a State proceeds to legislate on matters which affect the individual and society, claiming to be itself a source of ethics and principle. Pope Benedict called on the members to greater commitment in this increasingly delicate and difficult task and to continue with even greater zeal and courage in this important service to life and ' education to the Gospel values of future generations.