Pope Francis Describes Surrogacy As ‘Deplorable,’ Calls For Ban

Topline Pope Francis called for a universal ban on surrogate pregnancies, suggesting in a speech Monday that unborn children should be protected and not “turned into an object of trafficking,” adding to previous criticism by Francis against surrogacy. Francis said unborn children must be protected and not “suppressed or turned into an object of ...

[+] trafficking.” Key Facts Francis, who spoke Monday during an annual foreign policy address, referred to surrogate motherhood as “deplorable” and called for the “international community to prohibit this practice universally.” A child is “never the basis of a commercial contract,” Francis said, adding surrogacy—in which a woman carries a child for another person or couple—is a “grave violation” of human dignity by exploiting the “mother’s material needs.” Francis also criticized Western cultures for the “continued spread of a culture of death,” which he said “discards children, the elderly and the sick.” Crucial Quote “The path to peace calls for respect for life, for every human life, starting with the life of the unborn child in the mother’s womb, which cannot be suppressed or turned into an object of trafficking,” Francis said.

Key Background Francis has criticized surrogacy in recent years, suggesting the practice exploits women and violates human dignity. In 2022, Francis condemned surrogacy as an “inhumane and increasingly widespread practice,” which he referred to as “uterus for rent.” Francis also suggested surrogacies exploit poor women and children, who are “treated as commodities.” Despite criticism from Francis—who recently approved blessings for same sex couples—the Vatican has clarified that same sex couples who use surrogate mothers can have their children baptized, according to the Associated Press.

Tangent Altruistic surrogacies, an agreement where the surrogate mother isn’t paid for carrying a child, is legal in some European countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands and the U.K. Commercial surrogacies—in which the mother is paid—are only permitted in parts of the U.S., while other countries like Canada will compensate surrogate mothers for any expenses during their pregnancy, according to Sensible Surrogacy.

Further Reading Vatican Reaffirms Support Of Same Sex Blessings After Bishop Pushback ( Forbes ) The Vatican Says Transgender Catholics Can Be Baptized—Following Years Of Critical Statements About Trans People By Pope Francis ( Forbes ).