The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has re-emphasised his call for Catholics everywhere to reject abortion and euthanasia.

The Pope said Sunday 4 February that life was something given by God, and was not to be cut short under the "guise of human compassion".

The statement came out just days after a doctor in Italy was cleared of any wrongdoing by a medical panel, after he had turned off the life support machine of a paralysed man at the centre of a euthanasia ethical battle.

During his weekly address to pilgrims in St Peter's Square in Vatican City, Pope Benedict said, "Life, which is the work of God, cannot be negated by anyone, neither at the very young and indefensible unborn stage, nor when grave disabilities are present."

Sunday was the Italian Catholic Church's 'Day for Life', and to mark the occasion the Pope said humanity could not legitimise euthanasia or be "fooled" into justifying it "under the guise of human compassion".

Euthanasia currently is illegal and carries a jail term of up to 15 years in Italy. The issue was the focus of the Italian media last month when Italian doctor Mario Riccio disconnected the life support of Piergiorgio Welby, who was paralysed and had asked to die.