Pope asks for global ban on surrogacy
On Monday, Pope Francis urged a global prohibition on the “abhorrent” practice of surrogate motherhood, categorizing it as part of the broader issue of the “commercialization” of pregnancy during his annual address on threats to global peace and human dignity. In a speech to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, the Pope expressed concern about the escalating threats to peace, highlighting issues such as conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, migration, climate crises, and the unethical production of nuclear and conventional weapons.
In addition to major geopolitical concerns, Pope Francis specifically addressed smaller-scale issues affecting human dignity, including surrogate motherhood. He denounced the practice as “despicable,” emphasizing the need to protect the life of the unborn child and opposing its transformation into a commodity for trafficking.
“I consider despicable the practice of so-called surrogate motherhood, which represents a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child, based on the exploitation of situations of the mother’s material needs,” he expressed.
Asserting that children are gifts and not the basis for commercial contracts, Pope Francis called for a worldwide ban on surrogacy to universally prohibit the practice. While acknowledging opposition to surrogacy in some European countries like Spain and Italy, he also noted that the Vatican’s doctrine office allows the baptism of children born through surrogacy to homosexual parents.
Change of tone
In discussing geopolitical events, Pope Francis broke with his usual approach by directly naming Russia in condemnation of the “large-scale war waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.” Despite expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people, he balanced his criticism of Israel’s conflict with Hamas, condemning acts of terrorism and extremism while also acknowledging the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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He called for an immediate ceasefire, the liberation of hostages in Gaza, and reiterated the Holy See’s support for a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine with an internationally guaranteed special status for Jerusalem.