Vatican Condemns Gender-Affirming Surgery and Surrogacy as Violations of Human Dignity

The Vatican released a 20-page declaration condemning gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy as grave violations of human dignity, aligning them with abortion and euthanasia. The document, approved by Pope Francis, reiterated the rejection of "gender theory" and emphasized the biological differences between man and woman. LGBTQ+ advocates criticized the document as outdated and harmful, while the Vatican's doctrine office defended its stance, also denouncing the criminalization of homosexuality in some countries. The document also addressed surrogacy, stating it violates the dignity of the surrogate mother and the child, and comes amid a backdrop of increasing hostility towards transgender people in some parts of the world.