Pope in major policy address calls for universal ban on surrogacy, says it exploits mother and child

By NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis is calling for a universal ban on what he calls the “despicable” practice of surrogate motherhood. He included what he called the “commercialization” of pregnancy in an annual speech to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See. The speech listed the threats to global peace and human dignity, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Israel-Gaza war, migration and climate crises and the “immoral” production of nuclear and conventional weapons. But he also listed smaller-scale issues that he said were threats to human dignity, including surrogacy.