During a conference organized by the Catholic University of Applied Sciences of Cologne (KHKT), Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernandez, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, firmly criticized gender ideology and sex changes, denouncing a claim of omnipotence that seeks to reshape human identity according to individual desires.
The cardinal rejected the idea that sexual and bodily identity could be subject to radical modification based on personal aspirations. He emphasized that a sex change is not limited to a simple external transformation, like cosmetic surgery, but involves a profound will to become another person, which touches on the very nature of the human being.
Speaking via videoconference, the prelate warned against the temptation to create, through technical means, an "alternative reality" shaped according to each person's whims. However, he acknowledged the existence of exceptional situations of profound suffering, particularly in cases of severe dysphoria, which make life unbearable. These cases, according to him, must be examined with particular attention and great caution.
At the same time, he denounced ideologies that deny natural reality and claim that bodily identity could be completely redefined by human will alone.
Cardinal Fernandez also addressed criticisms of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith's document "Dignitas infinita," particularly regarding the use of the term "infinite" to qualify human dignity. He wanted to recall that this formulation originates with Saint John Paul II, who used it during a meeting with disabled persons in Osnabrück. The Polish pope taught that divine love, which is infinite, confers an absolute dignity on every person, independent of their natural capacities.
According to the cardinal, this infinite human dignity means that no circumstance, no condition of life can alter, restrict, or deny it. This concept must be universally recognized, as it rests not only on faith but also on reason and reflection. He notes that the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights is also based on this notion of the inherent and inalienable dignity of every human being.
Discussing the Church's position on the death penalty, Cardinal Fernandez highlighted Pope Francis's commitment to refusing its application, stating that if this infinite dignity is not removed from the worst criminal, then it cannot be denied to anyone. He insisted that all people, regardless of their differences, must be welcomed and respected in society.
It is from this perspective that "Dignitas infinita" addresses various social issues, such as poverty, the condition of migrants, the situation of women, persons with disabilities, and victims of violence or human trafficking. The cardinal concluded by affirming that Christian anthropology, which recognizes in every person a being loved and willed by God, remains unmatched in its depth and coherence.
The KHKT conference, which spans several days, features a total of 18 presentations and a roundtable dedicated to the study and application of the concept of human dignity.