In a 45-minute speech to Vatican-accredited diplomats, Pope Francis called for a global ban on surrogacy, describing the practice as “deplorable” and a serious violation of the dignity of both women and children. Reuters reported.
The pope’s stance is likely to create tension among gender-diverse groups, given that surrogacy is commonly adopted by gay or lesbian couples seeking parenthood.
Expressing his strong disapproval, the 87-year-old pontiff declared: “I consider the practice of so-called surrogacy deplorable, which represents a serious violation of the dignity of women and children, based on the exploitation of situations of material needs of the mother.”
Furthermore, he expressed his hope that international efforts will be made to universally ban this practice.
This statement follows Pope Francis’ recent historic decision to allow priests to bless same-sex couples, marking a shift in the Vatican’s approach to LGBTQ+ issues.
While comprehensive statistics on surrogacy births worldwide are lacking, ethical concerns have led to its illegality in numerous countries and some US states.
Critics warn against a possible “poverty bias”, highlighting the financial vulnerability of women who become surrogates.
In Italy, where surrogacy is illegal, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition is pushing legislation to expand the ban and penalize couples who seek surrogacy abroad. The Pope’s call for a universal ban aligns with Italy’s current legal stance on the matter.
In addition, Pope Francis reiterated the Vatican’s condemnation of gender theory, calling it “extremely dangerous” for erasing differences and attempting to establish equality.
This reaffirms the Vatican’s position against the notion that gender is more nuanced and fluid than traditional binary categories.
