50 years of Humanae Vitae: an extraordinary gift for future generations

An International Conference will be held on 9th and 10th February in Kigali, Rwanda to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae. This initiative has been organized by the Archdiocese of Kigali and the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda, in cooperation with the Pallottine Foundation for the Family.

The purpose of the Conference is to highlight the paramount importance of the prophetical teachings on conjugal life in Paul VI’s last encyclical letter.   Aware of the socio-political context in the Country, that promotes a libertarian sexual education at the expense of the unitive and procreative act proper to married life, the intent of the organizers is to propose pastoral reflection and initiatives for young people and families who can contribute to promoting the extraordinary value of true conjugal love, of responsible parenthood and natural family planning.

Among the over 300 participants, the Conference will involve the intervention of university professors, theologians, representatives of family movements and associations, pastoral care operators belonging to different institutes of consecrated life and  societies of apostolic life, who devote themselves to the care and promotion of the family, members of parish groups for family pastoral care, as well as representatives of the Diocesan offices and the Episcopal Conferences. The Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, sent an address of greeting with a personal message.

“The pastoral finality of the Encyclical” – Cardinal Farrell writes – “is unequivocal.  The purpose is to reiterate in today’s language the Magisterium of the Church on married love and provide an answer to cultural changes, especially with reference to the introduction of medical and artificial contraception. When Saint Paul VI promulgated Humanae Vitae, no-one would ever have imagined that this would be the last Encyclical of his Pontificate. With Humanae Vitae, it is almost as if he wanted to guarantee the continuity of his teaching even for future generations. In this sense, just as for its extraordinary beauty, the Magisterium contained within it constitutes a perennial and inestimable legacy for the Church and for humanity”.