Pope encourages scientists to value the sharing of knowledge

Published: 2004-11-08

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II said scientific researchers always should value the sharing of knowledge over competition and financial gain. He made the remarks Nov. 8 in a talk to members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, who were meeting in a plenary session devoted to the theme of science and creativity. The pope said that, in a sense, scientists are called to be "co-creators" with God as they use their knowledge and skill to shape the cosmos in harmony with a divine plan. Such creativity must be exercised responsibly, he said. It "demands respect for the natural order and, above all, for the nature of each human being," he said. Increasingly, the pope said, scientific progress is seen as the answer to modern problems, many of which have planetary repercussions. As a result, the men and women of science are asked to place their creativity more at the service of the human family, he said.

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