Humanae vitae

Humanae vitae
Latin for 'Of Human Life'
Encyclical of Pope Paul VI
Coat of arms of Pope Paul VI
Signature date 25 July 1968
SubjectAbout birth control
Number7 of 7 of the pontificate
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Pope Paul VI signed Humanae vitae on 25 July 1968.

Humanae vitae (Latin, meaning 'Of Human Life') is an encyclical written by Pope Paul VI and dated 25 July 1968. The text was issued at a Vatican press conference on 29 July.[1] Subtitled On the Regulation of Birth, it re-affirmed the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding married love, responsible parenthood, and the rejection of artificial contraception. In formulating his teaching he explained why he did not accept the conclusions of the Pontifical Commission on Birth Control established by his predecessor, Pope John XXIII, a commission he himself had expanded.[2]

Mainly because of its restatement of the Church's opposition to artificial contraception, the encyclical was politically controversial. It affirmed traditional Church moral teaching on the sanctity of life and the procreative and unitive nature of conjugal relations.

It was the last of Paul's seven encyclicals.[3]

  1. ^ "Stamane l'atteso documento del Pontefice sulla 'pillola'". La Stampa. 29 July 1968. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  2. ^ See encyclical, n.6.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference paulvi was invoked but never defined (see the help page).