Pope Francis delivered a speech in Vatican City on Monday, where he expressed his strong disapproval of surrogacy and called for a global ban on the practice. He referred to surrogate motherhood as “deplorable” and emphasized that it violates the dignity of both women and children, as it exploits vulnerable situations and material needs. The Pope firmly stated that a child should always be seen as a gift and never as a commodity in a commercial contract. He expressed his hope that the international community would take steps to universally prohibit surrogacy, emphasizing the importance of preserving and defending human life at all stages.
The Catholic Church has long opposed surrogacy and in vitro fertilization, arguing that they depersonalize conception and involve the disposal of embryos, which is considered equivalent to abortion. While surrogacy is illegal in Italy and some other countries, its legality and regulations vary across different nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States. The practice of surrogacy has provided a means of parenthood for individuals and same-sex couples facing difficulties in conceiving, but ethical concerns regarding exploitation have persisted. In 2022, Pope Francis described surrogacy as an inhuman and increasingly prevalent practice that exploits predominantly impoverished women and treats children as commodities. His opposition to surrogacy is rooted in his broader criticism of a culture in wealthier countries that disregards the value of life and allows it to be governed by commercial contracts.
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