The Vatican is urging President-elect Obama not to make any changes to policies on embryonic stem cell research.

The Roman Catholic Church sent messages to Obama explaining the Vatican's opposition to using embryos for research purposes.

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, the pope's health minister, said such research served "no purpose."

He also said the Vatican hoped to be in contact with the incoming administration to about its decisions on stem cell research.

President Bush issued executive orders banning government funding for any research involving new stem cells.

On Sunday, Obama's transition chief John Podesta, said the incoming president would overturn that policy.