Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday condemned a so-called abortion pill currently being tested in some Italian regions.
The pope avoided referring directly to the RU486 pill, which was first introduced in France in 1988 and is now available in several other European countries, including Britain, Germany and Sweden.
But his intention was clear as he spoke to administrators from Rome and the surrounding region of Lazio, where testing has not yet begun although a request to do so was sent to the health ministry in November.
"It is important not to introduce drugs which in some way disguise the seriousness of abortion, as a choice against life," the pope said. The drug at the centre of debate, also known as Mifepristone, causes a miscarriage if it is taken within the first seven weeks of pregnancy, allowing women to avoid a surgical abortion.
Its supporters, many of them on the political left, say it is safer than a traditional abortion and argue that it should be a right for every Italian woman. Italy allows abortions thanks to a 1974 law, which was confirmed by a referendum and which is still a sore point for the Catholic Church.
Benedict may also have had Italy in mind when he criticised gay marriages. Opposition leader Romano Prodi has promised gay
activists that he will bring in a sort of French-style PACS contract for gay and lesbian couples if he is elected as premier next April.
"It is a serious mistake to obscure the value and the functions of the legitimate family founded on marriage, giving other forms of union the same legal recognition," the pope said. He added that there was "no real social need" for gay marriages.
Reactions to the pope's remarks were not slow in coming and varied from intense irritation over alleged political "interference" to delight and praise. "Everyone should respect the pope's words," said Health Minister Francesco Storace, who has voiced strong reservations about the use of the RU486 pill.
Franco Grillini, a Democratic Left MP and honorary president of the Italian gay rights association Arcigay, was less pleased. "The pope doesn't know that Italian society has undergone profound changes," he said.
