Evangelium Vitae

by Pope John Paul II

Publisher:

Libreria Editrice Vaticana

, 1995

Overview

Pope John Paul II issued Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) in 1995. The encyclical states the Church's teaching on the dignity and inviolability of human life. The pontiff asserts that the immorality of murder, abortion, and euthanasia is a teaching of the ordinary and universal Magisterium of the Church and is therefore infallible and unchangeable. He also treats capital punishment, stating it to be normally immoral. The letter also deals with more general issues such as sexual morality, the importance of the family, and society's duty to care for the sick and the poor. The encyclical is divided into four sections, "The Voice of Your Brother's Blood Cries to Me from the Ground: Present-Day Threats to Human Life," "I Came That They May Have Life: The Christian Message Concerning Life," "You Shall Not Kill: God's Holy Law," and "You Did It to Me: For a New Culture of Human Life."

Contents

Top Highlights

“To refuse to take part in committing an injustice is not only a moral duty; it is also a basic human right.” (source)

“Yes, every man is his ‘brother’s keeper’, because God entrusts us to one another.” (source)

“Even in the midst of difficulties and uncertainties, every person sincerely open to truth and goodness can, by the light of reason and the hidden action of grace, come to recognize in the natural law written in the heart (cf. Rom 2:14–15) the sacred value of human life from its very beginning until its end, and can affirm the right of every human being to have this primary good respected to the highest degree.” (source)

“The Gospel of God’s love for man, the Gospel of the dignity of the person and the Gospel of life are a single and indivisible Gospel.” (source)

“All this is aggravated by a cultural climate which fails to perceive any meaning or value in suffering, but rather considers suffering the epitome of evil, to be eliminated at all costs.” (source)

Product Details

• Title: Evangelium Vitae
• Author: Pope John Paul II
• Series: The Papal Encyclicals of John Paul II in English
• Publisher: Libreria Editrice Vaticana
• Print Publication Date: 1995
• Logos Release Date: 2012
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Right to life; Catholic Church › Doctrines; Life › Religious aspects--Christianity
• Resource ID: LLS:EVANGVITAE
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:40:38Z

About Pope John Paul II

Pope Saint John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła (18 May 1920–2 April 2005), reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of The Holy See from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005. He was canonized along with Pope John XXIII on April 27, 2014.