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Catholic World News News Feature

Science & faith work together, Pope says November 06, 2006

There is no conflict between Christian faith and scientific truth, Pope Benedict XVI assured participants in this week's plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

In an English-language address to the 80 scientists, gathered in Rome for a discussion on scientific accuracy and the limits of prediction, the Pope conceded that many people see the progress of science as a reason to dismiss faith.

But in fact, the Pope said, scientific inquiry itself is part of God's plan for mankind. And science has its own limits, he added. "Science cannot replace philosophy and revelation by giving an exhaustive answer to man's most radical questions: questions about the meaning of living and dying, about ultimate values, and about the nature of progress itself." Regarding the specific theme of the Pontifical Academy's discussions, the Holy Father said that scientists have a moral obligation to accuracy, and to recognizing their own limitations. In practical terms, he said, "this means avoiding needlessly alarming predictions when these are not supported by sufficient data or exceed science's actual ability to predict. But it also means avoiding the opposite, namely a silence, born of fear, in the face of genuine problems."

Pope Benedict, who has often expressed a keen interest in environmental issues, said that scientists should offer reliable and accurate predictions on the ecological consequences of human actions. He offered his assurances that researchers would have the full support of the Church in offering solutions for contemporary problems, provided only that those solutions respect human life and human dignity.