Commenting on his March prayer intention (for a Christian response to bioethical challenges), Pope Francis said in a video that “it is evident that science has progressed, and today the field of bioethics presents us with a series of problems to which we must respond, not hiding our head like an ostrich.”

“Applications of biotechnological must always be used based on respect for human dignity,” he continued. “For example, human embryos cannot be treated as disposable material, to be discarded. This throw-away culture is also applied to them; no, that can’t be done.”