The defense of life is one of the pillars of the Church's Social Doctrine and has been a central theme in the teaching of all modern Popes. The Church teaches that human life is sacred from the moment of conception until natural death, and that any attack on human life is a grave sin and a violation of the fifth commandment ("You shall not kill").
Abortion and the Defense of the Unborn: The Church has been one of the strongest voices against abortion and has promoted the defense of the unborn child's right to life in every international forum. Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical "Evangelium Vitae" (1995), stated that abortion is an "abominable crime" and called Catholics to work to build a culture of life that protects the most vulnerable.
Euthanasia and the End of Life: The Church also firmly opposes euthanasia and assisted suicide, viewing these practices as a way of rejecting the gift of life. Care for terminally ill people must focus on providing palliative care and accompaniment, respecting the person's dignity and autonomy without resorting to means that intentionally cause death.
The Death Penalty: In recent years, the Church has adopted an increasingly firm position against the death penalty. In 2018, Pope Francis revised the Catechism of the Catholic Church to declare the death penalty "inadmissible" in all cases, reaffirming the Church's commitment to the inviolability of human life.
