During a meeting in Havana on 13 February 2016, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill signed a joint declaration. Point 21 of their declaration concerned bioethical issues:
· About abortion: “We call on all to respect the inalienable right to life. Millions are denied the very right to be born into the world”.
· About euthanasia: “The emergence of so-called euthanasia leads elderly people and the disabled to begin to feel that they are a burden on their families and on society in general”.
· About reproduction technology and human embryo research: “We are also concerned about the development of biomedical reproduction technology, as the manipulation of human life represents an attack on the foundations of human existence, created in the image of God. We believe that it is our duty to recall the immutability of Christian moral principles, based on respect for the dignity of the individual called into being according to the Creator’s plan”.
Radio Vatican (12/02/2016)