Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care, announced on Tuesday his dicastery has finished a study on the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS.

During press conference the Mexican cardinal said the study, which was requested by Pope Benedict XVI, is now in the hands of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.  “Our dicastery does not deal with doctrinal matters, only those that are pastoral,” he said.  Therefore the study has been passed on to the CDF for a final decision.

Cardinal Barragan said the study looks at the scientific, theological and moral aspects of the issue.  

In an interview with the Italian daily “La Repubblica” in April of this year, the cardinal  indicated that such a study was underway.