On Friday, Pope Francis will meet with participants in a congress of scientists about the morality of new research in regenerative medicine.
In addition to researchers and experts, the Congress is open to professionals from other fields, including politicians. As such, among the speakers, is Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden.
CARD. GIANFRANCO RAVASI
President, Pontifical Council for Culture
'The point of this Congress is to remember that medicine, in the noble sense of the word, is not only a biological, but a cultural issue.'
In medicine, the end doesn't always justify the means. Sometimes to find solutions to serious diseases, like Parkinson's, scientific research has raised serious moral and ethical conflicts. One of the best-known cases is the experimentation with embryonic stem cells.
Currently, one of the fields under further investigation is gene therapy. It is an experimental therapy consisting of manipulation of the genome of an individual to cure diseases.
ROBIN SMITH
President, The Stem for Life Foundation
'We want to inspire a true international conversation, one that unites people of all races, all religious beliefs, cultures and economic backgrounds in the cellular revolution.'
The conference will begin Thursday, April 28 and end Friday, April 30. This is the third edition of this meeting and the second time it's being held at the Vatican. The first was in 2011, during the pontificate of Benedict XVI.
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