"Pope Francis Advocates Global Ban on Surrogacy as 'Deplorable' Practice"

Pope Francis called for a global ban on surrogacy, labeling it as "despicable" and a "grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child." He urged for the prohibition of this practice universally, citing concerns about the commercialization of pregnancy and the exploitation of women's material needs. Surrogacy is already illegal in Italy and restricted in much of Europe, and the pope's stance aligns with the Catholic Church's opposition to surrogacy and abortion. He also expressed concerns about the erosion of biological gender differences and condemned conflicts and injustices around the world in his annual foreign policy address to diplomats accredited to the Holy See.