To understand "Humanae vitae" it is necessary to know the historical context in which it emerged: the rise of the so-called political and social revolution of 1968; the sexual revolution, which separated sexuality from ethics and religion; the appearance of the anovulatory pill; and the exacerbated feminist movement, which proclaimed the absolute autonomy of women, disassociating procreation from sexual union. Upon his accession to the pontificate, Paul VI was confronted with several open fronts regarding the family: the surprising consensus in the West on birth control; the use of contraceptives by many Catholics; and, in addition, theological dissent about the Catholic teaching on sexual morality. 

Aware of the delicate status, he continued to promote the study of the Pontifical Commission on Population, Family and Birth, created by St. John XXIII. At the same time, the new Pontiff thought that the Second Vatican Council was not the appropriate place to give an answer to the question of whether the anovulatory pill, which was beginning to be marketed, was licit from the moral point of view. 

Once the Council was over, the Commission continued its work. Part of the reflections carried out in that pontifical commission were leaked in an abusive way to the Press. As a consequence, many Catholics came to think that the Church was preparing a "change of magisterium" on the question of contraception. This was one of the causes of the consternation of many of the faithful when the Holy Father reaffirmed the traditional teaching in 1968. It was certainly a long-suffering document. Some have pointed out that when on that July 25, after celebrating the Mass of the Holy Spirit, Paul VI initialed the Encyclical, he signed his own passion. 

Broadly speaking, the content of "Humanae vitae" can be summarized in two very concrete ideas. On the one hand, it deals directly with contraception, in itself considered. On the other hand, it denounces the fact that the pill has distorted the way of conceiving the nature, meaning and beauty of human sexuality. The encyclical "Humanae vitae" is a prophetic, wise and far-sighted document, whose only purpose was the defense of the human being, marriage, the family and society. The magisterium of St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Pope Francis has confirmed and deepened it.