The head of the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, has issued a
statement clarifying passages of the book Light of the World, in which Pope Benedict
discusses AIDS and condom use.
The statement says Pope Benedict states that
AIDs cannot be solved only by the distribution of condoms, and, in fact, concentrating
on condoms just trivializes sexuality, which loses its meaning as an expression of
love and becomes like a drug.
At the same time, the Pope considered an exceptional
situation in which the exercise of sexuality represents a real risk to the lives of
others. In this case, the Pope does not morally justify the exercise of disordered
sexuality, but believes that the use of condoms to reduce the risk of infection is
a "first step on the road to a more human sexuality”, rather than not to use it and
risking the lives of others.
Father Lombardi’s statement clarifies Pope Benedict
XVI has not reformed or changed the Church's teaching, but by putting it in perspective
reaffirms the value and dignity of human sexuality as an expression of love and responsibility.