Pope Francis addressed a group of Catholic legislators on Sunday, urging them to be guided by the Church’s moral and social teachings in their work as lawmakers.

The lawmakers were in Rome for a meeting of the International Catholic Legislators Network (ICLN), an organization founded in 2010 by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna and British parliamentarian Lord David Alton.

In his remarks to the group, Pope Francis called on the legislators to work together with people of different political perspectives in order to build a more just society.

“As long as the contribution of the Church to the great questions of society in our time can be put into discussion,” said Pope Francis, “it is vital that your commitment be constantly pervaded by her moral and social teachings, in order to build a more humane and just society.”

“The laws that you promulgate and apply ought to build bridges between different political perspectives,” Francis continued, “even when they respond to precise ends ordered to the promotion of greater care for the defenseless and the marginalized, especially the many who are constrained to leave their countries; and when they are in order to favor a correct human and natural ecology.”

The Catholic Church has occasionally issued instructions to Catholic legislators on how to put their Christian beliefs into practice in their professional lives. A key text in this regard was issued by the Vatican in 2002 regarding “the Participation of Catholics in Political Life,” which underscored Catholics’ duty to oppose abortion and euthanasia and to support the traditional family.

“When political activity comes up against moral principles that do not admit of exception, compromise or derogation, the Catholic commitment becomes more evident and laden with responsibility,” the documents states.

“In the face of fundamental and inalienable ethical demands, Christians must recognize that what is at stake is the essence of the moral law, which concerns the integral good of the human person. This is the case with laws concerning abortion and euthanasia,” it continues. “Such laws must defend the basic right to life from conception to natural death.”

“Analogously, the family needs to be safeguarded and promoted, based on monogamous marriage between a man and a woman, and protected in its unity and stability in the face of modern laws on divorce,” it declared, adding that “in no way can other forms of cohabitation be placed on the same level as marriage, nor can they receive legal recognition as such.”

The Vatican released a similar teaching document the following year regarding proposals to give legal recognition to same-sex unions.

In it, the Vatican’s doctrinal office reaffirmed the Church’s teaching on the nature of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and offered instructions to Catholic legislators on how to address questions of homosexual unions when they come up.

“Moral conscience requires that, in every occasion, Christians give witness to the whole moral truth, which is contradicted both by approval of homosexual acts and unjust discrimination against homosexual persons,” the document states.

“Those who would move from tolerance to the legitimization of specific rights for cohabiting homosexual persons need to be reminded that the approval or legalization of evil is something far different from the toleration of evil,” the text warned.

The ICLN brings together Catholic legislators to discuss issues of common concern and share ideas about how best to bring their common faith to bear on their work in favor of the common good.

U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.V.) took part in the meeting with the Pope and spoke to Vatican Media about his expectations for the assembly.

“We have an opportunity to meet here with other Catholic legislators and elected officials from other parts of the world, and to discuss common concerns – problems, opportunities – for our faith, and how to work together and support each other,” he said.

“It’s very inspiring to see how people are fighting for family values,” Rep. Mooney continued, adding “it’s just more encouraging to see faithful Catholics from every country promoting the values of the Church.”

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