VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has called for a worldwide ban on surrogacy, condemning the practice of a woman carrying another person’s child as “deplorable.” The 87-year-old pontiff made this declaration during his New Year’s address to diplomats at the Vatican, denouncing surrogacy as a “grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child.”
In a speech primarily focused on the plea for an end to global conflicts, the head of the Catholic Church emphasized the importance of respecting life, asserting that “the path to peace calls for respect for life,” starting with the unborn child in the mother’s womb.
Pope Francis expressed his disapproval of surrogacy, describing it as a practice that exploits situations of the mother’s material needs, constituting a severe infringement on the dignity of both the woman and the child. He stressed that a child should always be viewed as a gift and never the subject of a commercial contract. He urged the international community to unite in efforts to universally prohibit surrogacy.
This is not the first time the pope has spoken out against surrogacy. In June 2022, he characterized surrogacy as an “inhuman” practice, aligning with his recent remarks.
While “altruistic” surrogacy, where no money changes hands except for necessary expenses, is legally accepted in countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, Canada, Brazil, and Colombia, commercial surrogacy is permitted in certain U.S. states.
The pope’s call for a global ban adds a significant voice to the ongoing debate surrounding surrogacy practices, raising questions about ethical considerations and the rights of those involved.
