Pontifical Academy for Life

The Latest

The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Christmas tree, Dec. 9, 2021.

Vatican reaffirms support for COVID-19 vaccines amid spread of omicron variant

Dec 22, 2021

By CNA Staff

It issued a statement amid global concern about the Omicron variant. Read more

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Ethics committee authorizes first assisted suicide in Italy

Nov 24, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

‘Nobody can be called to be the bearer of the death of others,’ a spokesman for Italy's Catholic bishops said. Read more

Pope Francis addresses participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall, Sept. 27, 2021.

Pope Francis decries abortion and euthanasia as treating human life like ‘waste’

Sep 27, 2021

By Courtney Mares

“Is it right to hire a hitman to solve a problem? That’s what abortion is,” the pope said. Read more

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Campaign for legal euthanasia, assisted suicide takes step forward in Italy

Aug 19, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Campaigners in Italy have passed the first hurdle in an effort to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia. Read more

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, in Philadelphia, March 9, 2015.

Archbishop Paglia pleads with Catholic critics of Covid vaccines

Jul 2, 2021

By Alejandro Bermudez

During a press conference on Friday, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, called Catholics who are... Read more

Credit: Photographee.eu / Shutterstock.

Vatican: Institutionalization of elderly a mark of ‘throwaway culture’

Feb 9, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican called on Tuesday for a rethinking of elder care in a document arguing that the elderly are best... Read more

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, pictured May 24, 2016.

Pontifical academy defends coronavirus document that did not mention God

Jul 31, 2020

The Pontifical Academy for Life has defended its latest document on the coronavirus crisis following criticism that it did not... Read more

Pontifical Academy for Life expresses concern over pandemic aggravating inequalities

Jul 22, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Pontifical Academy for Life released a document Wednesday that expresses concern that the coronavirus pandemic is aggravating global inequalities.  Read more

CNA

Pontifical Academy for Life, tech companies, call for ethical use of AI technology

Feb 28, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Pontifical Academy for Life signed Friday, alongside presidents of IBM and Microsoft, a call for ethical and responsible use... Read more

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia.

Analysis: Has Archbishop Paglia opened a new fight over 'accompaniment'?

Dec 16, 2019

By Ed Condon

Catholics hoping for a swift correction to Paglia’s insistence on the need to “accompany” someone committing assisted suicide may be... Read more

The Vatican City flag flies near St. Peter's Basilica.

Pontifical Academy for Life hosts interreligious discussion on palliative care

Dec 12, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life held an international symposium this week on medical ethics and palliative care, hosted together... Read more

Saint James Cathedral, Seattle, Wa.

Seattle Catholic schools to require vaccinations 

Oct 3, 2019

By Christine Rousselle

Children who attend Catholic schools administered by the Archdiocese of Seattle must be vaccinated and can no longer claim personal... Read more

Cardinal Elio Sgreccia, president emeritus of the Pontifical Academy for Life, prays at the Vigil for Life at Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, March 24, 2015.

Cardinal Elio Sgreccia, eminent Italian bioethicist, dies at 90

Jun 5, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Cardinal Elio Sgreccia, a bioethicist and president eremitus of the Pontifical Academy for Life, died in his home in Rome... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square June 17, 2015.

Pope tells Life academy to defend human dignity with courage

Jan 15, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Dialogue with society for the protection of human dignity and the common good, which are under threat, Pope Francis said... Read more

Pope Francis with the General Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life in Vatican City on June 25, 2018.

Pope Francis: Human ecology begins with accepting the body

Jun 25, 2018

A healthy human ecology begins with a respectful and holistic view of the body as God created it, Pope Francis... Read more

Philosophy professor launches international pro-life academy

Nov 2, 2017

By Kevin J. Jones

A former member of the Pontifical Academy for Life has launched an independent organization he claims will work to “unfold... Read more

A view of St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican City flag from the roof of a nearby building.

Vatican conference tackles new technology and medicine

Oct 2, 2017

By Elise Harris

Technology will be at the heart of an upcoming Vatican conference on accompanying human life in the digital era, particularly... Read more

Pope Francis walking out of the Paul VI Hall during the Synod on the Family, Oct. 9, 2015.

Updated: Pope Francis creates Vatican office combining laity, family, life issues

Oct 22, 2015

Pope Francis announced Thursday to the Synod on the Family that he has chosen to establish a new office in... Read more

Dr. John Haas.

De-humanization the most pressing issue of today, expert says

Oct 3, 2013

By Elise Harris

A gathering of researchers and scientists convened in Rome to discuss some of the greatest threats to humanity, identifying the... Read more

Monsignor Jacques Suaudeau speaks with CNA during a July 12 2013 interview at the Academy for Life.

Irish law will lead to abortion increase, Vatican expert predicts

Jul 12, 2013

A scientist from the Pontifical Academy for Life says Ireland’s new abortion law will result in an increased number of... Read more