The service you offer to the sacredness of life is sometimes expressed in a complex and difficult sociocultural context. I am thinking, for example of certain forms of disease that are spreading with frightening rapidity and are sometimes the result of an erroneous concept of human freedom and dignity, or worse, of the search for forms of escape that destroy man's ability to face life responsibly.

Distribution of medicine must be guided by moral code.

In the face of these situations, the Church's teaching has always been consistent in defending the values that ennoble man and meaning of suffering. Still today, echoing the teaching of the Pontiffs Pius XII and Paul VI, she repeats that "ONE CANNOT ACCEPT BEING A PARTY TO ATTACKS ON LIFE OR THE INTEGRITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL, ON PROCREATION OR THE MORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF HUMANITY" (Pius XII, Address to Catholic Pharmacists, 2 September 1950, Discourses and Radio Messages, pp. 177-178). And “ONE CANNOT IN ALL CONSCIENCE LOOK FOR A SOURCE OF PROFIT IN THE SALE OF PRODUCTS THAT DEGRADE MEN," and his dignity (Paul VI, Discourse to the International Pharmaceutical Federation, 7 September, 1974, Insegnamenti, XII, pp. 798-801; L'Osservatore Romano English edition, 19 September 1974, p.4). I have already had occasion to stress that "the distribution of medication --- as well as its production and use --- must be governed by a RIGOROUS MORAL CODE ATTENTIVELY OBSERVED! Respect for this code of behavior presupposes FIDELITY TO CERTAIN INTANGIBLE PRINCIPLES which the mission of the baptized and the duty of Christian witness make particularly timely" (Address to the International Federation of Catholic Pharmacists, 3 November 1990, in Insegnamenti, XIII/2, p. 99); L’Osservatore Romano English edition, 12 November 1990, p.4).

Your work however is not limited to dispensing products destined for psychological and physical well-being. As Catholics working in the health-care sector, you are called to play an important human, social and ethical role. Through contact with all those who rely on your competence, you have an opportunity to become advisers and even evangelizers, precisely because your profession implies trust in your skill and in your humanity. The moral and psychological comfort which you can offer those who are suffering is great, IF IT IS THE RESULT OF HUMAN MATURITY AND A WEALTH OF VALUES DERIVING FROM THE UNCHANGING PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL AND GOSPEL ETHICS. Thus you have an opportunity to contribute a dimension of authentic Christian solidarity to your profession, keeping in mind the image of the Good Samaritan who does not only offer immediate aid, but accepts the prospect of taking further care of his brother (cf. Lk. 10:29-37)

Dear pharmacists, the profession you exercise requires deep human, ethical and spiritual qualities. It demands wisdom and prudence together with a keen sense of honesty and integrity. YOUR WORK IS NOT THE FINAL STAGE OF PRODUCTION LINE where the commercial competition of industrial plants ends. Rather it should be a place where suffering finds a physical remedy and understanding for wounds of the soul.

     May the Virgin Mary, invoked with the title of "Salus Infirmorum" help you to carry out your mission diligently and patiently as a service to life; may the example of the holy martyrs St. Cosmas and St. Damian, whom you venerate as your patrons, help you to be steadfast in FIDELITY TO GOSPEL PRINCIPLES; may my blessing, which I gladly extend to your co-workers and all you loved ones, go with you.

The HOLY FATHER’S ADDRESS

to

THE FEDERATION OF CATHOLIC PHARMACISTS

November 3, 1990

In his speech the Holy Father made these points:

-The pharmacist-client relationship goes beyond a commercial transaction; the sick come awaiting “some counsel, a reason for hope or a path to follow”.

-The Catholic pharmacist must actively oppose “forms of aggression against human life and human dignity” which are “becoming more numerous, notably through recourse to medication”.

-Profit must always be subordinated to respect for the moral law, and Catholic pharmacists must always witness that they follow the moral code, without submitting to “various opinions”, the “harsh laws of the marketplace or permissive legislation”.

-Faced with threats to life the Church is making her voice and teaching heard more widely and more often.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

1. It is with pleasure that I welcome you who are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the International Federation of Catholic Pharmacists. I thank your President, Dr. Edwin Scheer, for the warm greeting which he just directed to me, and for the description he gave of the strong resolve of your federation to follow courageously in the steps of your founders. Four decades of increasing activity confirm the importance and worth of your institution.

2. As you know, the Church considers care given to the sick to be a privileged aspect of her mission. The Church is closely connected with spiritual care, but that should not lead her to ignore physical health. Is it not true that we often borrow from your language when we speak of “medicinal grace”, or when we refer to virtues and spiritual values as “remedies”?

The extraordinary development of science and of the practice of medicine, both in terms of society’s care of the sick and preventive medicine, includes a considerable parallel development in the field of pharmacology. Pharmacists, therefore, who have always been an intermediary between the doctor and the sick person, have seen their field of activity broaden . Awareness of your responsibilities leads you to reflect increasingly on the human, cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions of your mission. In fact, the relationship between the pharmacist and the one seeking medication goes far beyond its commercial aspects, because it requires an acute perception of the personal problems of the person involved as well as the basic ethical aspects of the services rendered to the life and dignity of the human person.

3. As I have often had the occasion to point out, pharmacists can be sought out for non-therapeutic ends which are liable to go against the natural law, to the detriment of the person’s dignity. Therefore it is clear that the distribution of medication - as well as its production and use - must be governed by a rigorous moral code attentively observed. Respect for this code of behavior presupposes fidelity to certain intangible principles which the mission of the Baptized and the duty of Christian witness make particularly timely.

All this requires the pharmacist’s constantly renewed reflection. Forms of aggression against human life and human dignity are becoming more numerous, notably through recourse to medication, even though it should never be used against life, directly or surreptitiously. That is why the Catholic pharmacist has the duty - in accord moreover with the changeless princi[;es of natural ethics inscribed in the human conscience - to be an attentive counselor of those who are purchasing remedies, not to mention the moral help which he or she can give to those who come to buy a product, bur who also await some counsel, a reason for hope, or a path to follow.

4. In distributing medication, the pharmacist cannot ignore the demands of his or her conscience in preference to the harsh laws of the marketplace or permissive legislation. Profit, which is both legitimate and necessary, must always be subordinated to respect for the moral law and in accord with the Church’s Magisterium. In society one should be able to recognize Catholic pharmacists as both competent and faithful witnesses, without leading to a situation where institutions and associations which form under that title lose their reason for coming into existence.

For the Catholic pharmacist, Church teachings about respect for life and the dignity of the human person from conception to the last moments of life are of an ethical and moral nature. He or she cannot submit to various opinions or apply changing options at will. Aware of the novelty and complexity of the problems posed by scientific and technological progress, the Church makes her voice heard more often and gives clear guidelines to healthcare personnel, to which group the pharmacist belongs. Adhering to this teaching is surely a difficult duty to apply concretely in your daily work, bur for a Catholic pharmacist it is a matter of fundamental guidelines which he or she cannot ignore.

5. In working at your profession, you are called to be near to the consumers of medication: for you they are the neighbors whom, in the image of the Good Samaritan, you view not only in regard to their immediate needs, but as brothers and sisters who ask for more than simply material help.

the Gospel speaks of a power to heal which emanates from the person of Christ Himself; the sick and the infirm approach the pharmacist as one who knows how to heal soul and body. It is in this spirit that you are called to act, by virtue of your profession and your Christian faith.

That was what inspired your founders whom we recall today with admiration and recognition. Your association helps you to come to a clear awareness of your specific duties. The Church needs your witness which, among other ways, can be translated into your activities to urge public authorities to adopt laws which recognize the sacred and intangible character of life and of all that can contribute to improving physical, psychological and spiritual conditions.

With all my heart I invoke upon your federation upon you yourselves and your famil8es, as well as upon your daily work the support of God’s blessing May the Most Holy Virgin, Mother of goodness and wisdom, guide you along the path of faith and in the service you render to life!