Vatican City – Pope Francis has called for a worldwide ban on surrogate motherhood, equating it to child trafficking. The pope made these remarks during a meeting with ambassadors to the Vatican, sparking further support for Italy’s bid to implement the strictest legislation on surrogacy in the Western world. Surrogacy is a method used by infertile couples and same-sex partners to have children.
In prepared remarks, Pope Francis denounced surrogate motherhood as a violation of the dignity of women and children. He criticized the practice for exploiting women’s material needs and turning children into commodities. The pope expressed his hope for an international effort to universally prohibit this practice.
The pope also condemned surrogacy as a Western problem and referred to it as part of a “culture of death” that disregards the value of life. While Pope Francis has been praised for his progressive views on LGBTQ+ rights and social issues, he has maintained conservative positions on reproductive health, including surrogacy.
This is not the first time the pope has spoken against surrogacy. In 2022, he compared it to both pornography and a threat to human dignity. Pope Francis has repeatedly criticized surrogacy as an exploitation of women living in poverty, arguing that it perpetuates the commodification of human life in our commercialized society.
The pope’s recent speech also touched upon other global issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the war in Ukraine, humanitarian crises in Africa, and rising tensions in Latin America. By discussing such matters, the pope seeks to place them on the diplomatic agenda and promote international cooperation.
While the United Nations has cautioned against surrogacy, emphasizing the risk of commodifying children, it has not advocated for a outright ban. Many countries in Europe have already banned surrogacy, while others only allow it under certain altruistic circumstances.
In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of the far-right party is pushing for stricter measures against surrogacy. She aims to expand the existing ban, imposing jail time and hefty fines for parents seeking to have children through surrogate mothers abroad. Meloni’s stance against surrogacy aligns with Pope Francis’ views on the matter.
Pro-surrogacy groups have criticized the pope’s comments, viewing them as bolstering Meloni’s proposed law. They argue that the right-wing government in Italy is exploiting the pope’s remarks for political gain, without genuine concern for religious doctrine.
In summary, Pope Francis has called for a global ban on surrogate motherhood, asserting that it violates the dignity of women and children. The pope’s remarks support Italy’s efforts to pass strict legislation on surrogacy. Surrogacy has been cast as a Western problem by Pope Francis and condemned as a practice that devalues life. While the United Nations warns against the commodification of children, it advocates for global safeguards rather than an outright ban. Prime Minister Meloni’s proposed law aligns with the pope’s statements, triggering political consequences and underscoring the ongoing debate surrounding surrogacy.