21.

 With respect to the specific fields of health-related policies and legislation on matters of xenotransplantation, it is our heartfelt hope that the considerations offered in the present document will provide a useful point of reference for all those who - at an international, national, regional and local level - are responsible for leading society. Many countries(⁷⁴) have already developed guidelines to regulate this complex sector, offering helpful operational directives.

On our part, we do not believe that this document should enter into procedural political-legislative matters. We therefore limit ourselves to emphasizing the importance and desirability that a substantial convergence of international legislation in this area should be achieved as soon as possible, by means of a genuine coordination at the different levels. On the one hand such legislation must provide rules for the continuation of scientific research, guaranteeing its validity and safety; on the other hand it must watch over the health of the citizens involved and the potential risks (especially infective) connected with xenotransplantation. Furthermore it must offer criteria for organizing the necessary information campaigns aimed at the entire population.

We conclude this document with the sincere hope that the effort made on this study by those who have participated in it - scientists, jurists, theologians and bioethicists - will represent a concrete contribution to the development of the discussion on the important theme of xenotransplantation. May it also be seen as a further expression of the close attention which the Catholic Church pays on problems related to human disease and suffering.

Juan DE DIOS VIAL CORREA
President

Elio SGRECCIA
Vice-President

* As is the custom, this document of the Pontifical Academy for Life is published under the editorship of the President and Vice-President.

In drafting its contents, the Academy received input from an international work group with specific expertise in the various disciplines connected with xenotransplantation; this work group met many times in the Vatican earlier this year.

Members of the work group are the following: 

-Bishop Elio Sgreccia
Vice-President of the Pontifical Academy for Life
Chairman

for the scientific section:
-Prof. Fritz H. Bach
(xenotransplantation, immunogenetics)
Harvard Medical School Boston, USA

-Prof. Fulvio Calise
(xenotransplantation, clinical experimentation)
Head of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplants
Liver Unit, Cardarelli Hospital Naples, ITALY

- Prof. Felix Cantarovich
(transplantation, health care policies)
Coordinator of the National Commission on Xenotransplantation
Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA

- Prof. Emanuele Cozzi
(xenotransplantation, preclinical experimentation)
Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge
Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road - Cambridge, UK

- Prof. Marialuisa Lavitrano
(xenotransplantation, biotechnologies, molecular biology and genetics)
Coordinator of "Italy Xenotransplant Project"
Member of Working Group on Xenotransplantation Council of Europe
Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology
University "La Sapienza" Rome, ITALY

- Prof. Ignazio Marino
(transplantation)
 Mediterranean Institute for Transplants and Highly Specialized Therapies
City Hospital Palermo, ITALY

- Prof. Eraldo Seren
(xenotransplantation, veterinary experimentation)
Professor of Veterinary Physiology
State University - Bologna, ITALY

- Prof. Angelo Serra, S.J.
(human genetics)
Professor Emeritus of Human Genetics
Sacred Heart Catholic University Rome, ITALY

- Prof. Jonathan P. Stoye
(xenotransplantation, virology-microbiology)
Division of Virology,
National Institute for Medical Research London, UK

for the ethical-anthropological section: 

- The Rev. Maurizio Calipari
(moral theology, bioethics)
Pontifical Academy for Life VATICAN CITY

- Msgr. Ignacio Carrasco De Paula
(moral theology, bioethics)
Professor of Bioethics
Bioethics Institute, Sacred Heart Catholic University Rome, ITALY

- Prof. Maurizio P. Faggioni, O.F.M.
(moral theology, bioethics)
Visiting Professor of Bioethics
Alphonsian Academy Rome, ITALY

- Msgr. Nunzio Galantino
(philosophical anthropology)
Professor of Philosophical Anthropology
Southern Italy Faculty of Theology Naples, ITALY

- Prof. Bonifacio Honings, O.C.D.
(moral theology)
Professor Emeritus of Moral Theology

- Msgr. Osvaldo Neves de Almeida
(international law, business law)
Secretariate of State (Sect. for Relations with States) VATICAN CITY

- Prof. Renzo Pegoraro
(bioethics)
General Secretary of Lanza Foundation Padova, ITALY

- Msgr. Angel Rodriguez Luo
(moral theology, bioethics)
Professor of Moral Theology
Holy Cross Pontifical University Rome, ITALY

- Prof. Antonio G. Spagnolo
(bioethics)
Associate of Bioethics
Sacred Heart Catholic University Rome, ITALY

- Justice C.G. Weeramantry
(international law)
Former Vice-President, International Court of Justice
Dharmaraja, Mawatha - SRI LANKA

Representatives of the Holy See
- Msgr. Tullio Poli
Secretariate of State (Sect. for Relations with States)
VATICAN CITY

- Dr. Maria Isabel Telleria Tapia
Secretariate of State (Sect. for Relations with States)
VATICAN CITY