Pope calls for stronger data privacy protections in health care

June 03, 2026

In a message to the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Pope Leo XIV called for stronger data privacy protections in health care.

The message, dated June 1 and released in summary form by the Vatican the following day, coincided with a meeting on the topic organized by the World Medical Association, the Pontifical Academy for Life, and the Israeli Medical Association.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, sent the message in Pope Leo’s name. He wrote:

Created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26-27), every human person is an irreducible and unique individual of inestimable value, and therefore must be protected from the various forms of exploitation and commercialization that seek to reduce the person to a series of data ...

The constant improvement and evolution of technology signify that updating existing security and privacy policies has become an urgent and fundamental matter.

 

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Further information:

• Pope calls for stronger health data protections in digital age (Vatican News, 6/2/26)
• La persona umana è immagine di Dio non una serie di dati: Messaggio di Leone XIV a un incontro promosso dalla Pontificia accademia per la vita (L'Osservatore Romano, 6/2/26)