Having someone give birth for you at a fee is a “despicable” act – Pope Francis condemns surrogacy, calls for global ban

In his annual foreign policy address to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, Pope Francis called for a universal ban on what he termed the “despicable” practice of surrogate motherhood. He included the “commercialization” of pregnancy among the threats to global peace and human dignity.

Francis, lamenting the increasing threats to peace in the world, listed various issues, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict, migration challenges, climate crises, and the production of nuclear and conventional weapons. However, he also highlighted smaller-scale issues, such as surrogacy, stating that the life of the unborn child must be protected and not turned into an “object of trafficking.”

Expressing his strong disapproval, the Pope deemed surrogate motherhood a “grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child” based on the exploitation of the mother’s material needs. He went on to declare it a practice that should be universally banned, emphasizing that a child should never be the basis of a commercial contract.

The Vatican’s stance against surrogacy is not new, aligning with its opposition to in vitro fertilization. While commercial surrogacy contracts are common in the United States, parts of Europe, including Spain and Italy, have banned such arrangements. The ongoing war in Ukraine has shed light on the thriving surrogacy industry in the country, where surrogacy for foreigners is allowed.

The Pope’s words were echoed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, stating that surrogacy is “not morally permissible.” The Catholic Church advocates for a world that upholds the profound dignity of every person.

In his geopolitical roundup, Pope Francis broke with his usual tendency to spare Moscow public blame, explicitly mentioning Russia’s “large-scale war” against Ukraine. He also addressed Israel’s conflict with Hamas, condemning terrorism and extremism while urging an immediate cease-fire, the liberation of hostages, and advocating for a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians.

The Pope’s call for a global ban on surrogacy adds a new dimension to the ongoing discourse on reproductive ethics and human dignity.