The last pontiffs have pointed out the need to find a common theoretical ground, accepted by believers and non-believers, to address humanity’s most urgent issues, such as ecology, peace and coexistence between races and cultures. Ratzinger committed himself to this direction, proposing the study of natural law in search of the bases for establishing common responsibilities. For him, this law is the source from which fundamental human rights and ethical imperatives spring. The world is a divine creation that manifests creative reason, and being is the bearer of a moral message that is part of the language of creation. This commitment resulted in a pontifical document on natural law, but also in a confrontation on related issues, such as gender and sexual orientation. This article analyzes the origin of the concept of natural law, the controversy surrounding it and the possibilities of overcoming it. It then analyzes the controversy about gender and proposes new paths of reflection that can be followed.