Pope: technology has great power, but carries risks for humanity and poor nations
For the pontiff, "people, and sometimes even those who represent and govern them" cannot fully realise the seriousness of the emerging challenges. “When the interplay between technological and economic power becomes close, interests can affect lifestyles and social orientations to the benefit of come industrial and business groups”.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Francis spoke today to members of the National Committee for Biosafety, Biotechnology and Life Sciences at an audience in the Vatican on the latter’s 25 anniversary.
In his address, the pontiff warned scientists and experts about the huge and growing power technology puts in human hands, which carries a double risk, namely that people and sometimes rulers do not to appreciate fully the seriousness of the emerging challenges and that ties to powerful economic groups can affect social orientations and hurt poor countries.
Citing the book of Genesis, the Holy Father noted that God entrusted us with the task of "cultivating" and "safeguarding" creation. "Your task,” he stressed, “is not only to promote the harmonious and integrated development of scientific and technological research that relates to the biological processes of plant, animal and human life. You are also asked to predict and prevent the negative consequences that a distorted use of science and technology can result in when they are used to manipulate life.”
"Scientists and technologists are called upon to 'know' and to 'know how to do' with increasing precision and creativity in his or her field of expertise, whilst, at the same time, making responsible decisions on the steps to take and those before which to stop in order to take a different path.
“The principle of accountability is an essential cornerstone of human action. We must answer for our actions and omissions to ourselves, to others and ultimately to God. Technology, even more than science, puts in human hands a huge and growing power.
“A grave risk is that people, and at times even those who represent and govern them, are not fully aware of the seriousness of the emerging challenges, of the complexities of the problems to be solved, and are in danger of misusing the power that sciences and biotechnologies put in their hands (see Romano Guardini, La fine dell’epoca moderna, Brescia 1987, pp. 80-81).
“When the interplay between technological and economic power becomes close, interests can affect lifestyles and social orientations to the benefit of certain industrial and business groups, to the detriment of the poorest people and nations.
“It is not easy to reach a harmonious composition of the different scientific, productive, ethical, social, economic and political realities to promote a sustainable development that respects our ‘common home’. Such harmonious composition requires humility, courage and openness for an exchange between the various positions, in the certainty that the testimony given by men and women of science to the truth and the common good contributes to the progress of social conscience."
"In concluding this reflection, let me remind you that the science and technology are made for human beings and the world, not human beings and the world for science and technology. May they be put in the service of a dignified and healthy life for everyone, now and in the future; may they help make our common home more livable and supportive, more cared for and safe-guarded."
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