Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Quoting Scriptures – "before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you" (Jer 1:5) – and affirming that "God's love does not differentiate between the newly-conceived still in its mother's womb and the child or the adult, whether young or old," Benedict XVI reinforced today the principle of the sacredness of every human life, from the outset of its existence.  It was with such an approach that the Pope also gave an indication on the topic "The Human Embryo in the Pre-Implantation Phase", for which he himself stressed that "neither Sacred Scriptures nor the most ancient Christian Tradition can contain explicit considerations", and which was at the heart of the General Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life as well as an international conference.

"Our sacred books," the Pope told those participating in the two meetings whom he received today in audience, "mean to show God's love for each human being even before he takes shape in the mother's womb."

"God's love," he added, "does not differentiate between the newly-conceived still in its mother's womb, and the child or adult, whether young or old.  He does not differentiate because in each of these He sees the mark of his own image and likeness (Gen 1:26).  He does not differentiate because in each one He sees the reflection of his only Son, having "chose us in him, before the foundation of the world…destined us for adoption to himself…in accord with the favour of his will" (Eph 1:4-6).  This boundless and almost incomprehensible love of God for man reveals to what point the human person is worthy of being loved in and of himself, independently of any other consideration – intelligence, beauty, health, youthfulness, wholeness and so on."

"For this reason," he concluded, "the Church's Magisterium has consistently proclaimed the sacred and inviolable character of every human life, from conception to natural death (cf Evangelium vitae, 57).  This moral judgement already applies at the outset of life of an embryo, even before it is implanted in the maternal womb, which will care for and nourish it for nine months until the moment of birth. 'Human life is sacred and inviolable at every moment of existence, including the initial phase which precedes birth' (ibid, no. 61)."