The Roman Catholic Church could see a historic shift in policy this week as the Vatican considers whether the use of condoms may be acceptable in the fight against AIDS during a conference on infectious diseases opening at the Vatican.
The Pope will consider the recommendations of Cardinal Lozano Barragan, the head of the Vatican's Council for pastoral healthcare, who advised in a study commissioned by the Pope that a limited use of barrier contraception might be acceptable in the fight against AIDS.
Until now the Church has taught that fidelity within a heterosexual marriage, chastity and abstinence are the most effective ways of halting the spread of AIDS.
"This is something that worries the Pope a lot," said Cardinal Barragan told a news conference.
"Following the wishes of Benedict, we carried out a careful study on condoms, both from a scientific and moral point of view," he said.
Cardinal Barragan's comments coincided with a United Nations report which revealed HIV infections were on the rise in all regions and that nearly 40 million adults and children are infected worldwide.
The issue is expected to arise when the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has his first full discussion with the Pope at an audience in the Vatican.
The Catholic Church has so far held off from giving its support to the use of condoms to fight AIDS for fear that this might encourage promiscuous behaviour that will only serve to spread the disease in the long run.
"We hope the theologians and the Holy Father will say what is best regarding this subject ... but no response from the Church can be one that encourages a libertine sexual attitude," he said.
The 200-page study on the use of condoms will be passed on to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which will add its own theological and doctrinal opinions, Reuters reported, before it is passed on to the Pope for his consideration. The document will not be made public.
