Pope Francis called Monday for a universal ban on what he called the 害羞草研究所渄espicable害羞草研究所� practice of surrogate motherhood, as he included the 害羞草研究所渃ommercialization害羞草研究所� of pregnancy in an annual speech listing threats to global peace and human dignity.
In a foreign policy address to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, Francis lamented that 2024 had dawned at a time in which peace is 害羞草研究所渋ncreasingly threatened, weakened and in some part lost.害羞草研究所�
Citing , the , , and the 害羞草研究所渋mmoral害羞草研究所� production of nuclear and conventional weapons, Francis delivered a list of the ills afflicting humanity and the increasing violation of international humanitarian law that allows them.
But Francis also listed smaller-scale issues that he said were threats to peace and human dignity, including surrogacy. He said the life of the unborn child must be protected and not 害羞草研究所渟uppressed or turned into an object of trafficking.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚 consider despicable the practice of so-called surrogate motherhood, which represents a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child, based on the exploitation of situations of the mother害羞草研究所檚 material needs,害羞草研究所� he said.
Saying a child is a gift and 害羞草研究所渘ever the basis of a commercial contract,害羞草研究所� he called for a global ban on surrogacy 害羞草研究所渢o prohibit this practice universally.害羞草研究所�
Francis has previously voiced the Catholic Church害羞草研究所檚 opposition to what he has called 害羞草研究所渦terus for rent.害羞草研究所� At the same time, however, the Vatican害羞草研究所檚 doctrine office has made clear that same-sex parents who resort to surrogacy can have their children baptized.
While commercial surrogacy contracts are common in the United States, including with protections for the mothers, guarantees of independent legal representation and medical coverage, they are banned in parts of Europe including Spain and Italy.
Russia害羞草研究所檚 war in Ukraine, and the threat to babies born to surrogate Ukrainian mothers, exposed the country害羞草研究所檚 thriving industry. Ukraine is one of the few countries that allow surrogacy for foreigners.
Critics say commercial surrogacy targets women who are poor and from vulnerable communities. Supporters say surrogacy gives women a chance to provide children to childless couples, and that commercial contracts protect both the surrogates and the intended parents.
In Italy, where surrogacy has been banned for years, the issue has emerged recently as the conservative government of Premier Giorgia Meloni has opposed registering both parents of children born via surrogacy overseas.
In his geopolitical roundup, Francis in noting the 害羞草研究所渓arge-scale war waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.害羞草研究所� It marked an unusual break with Francis害羞草研究所� usual tendency to spare Moscow direct, public blame for the invasion when expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
Francis was more balanced in his condemning Hamas害羞草研究所� Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel 害羞草研究所渁nd every instance of terrorism and extremism.害羞草研究所� At the same time, he said the attack provoked a 害羞草研究所渟trong Israeli military response害羞草研究所� that had left thousands dead and created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
He called for an immediate cease-fire, including in Lebanon, and the liberation of hostages held in Gaza, and reiterated the Holy See害羞草研究所檚 position seeking a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians and an internationally guaranteed special status for Jerusalem.
In other comments, Francis:
害羞草研究所� Lamented various humanitarian and refugee crises in Africa, and without naming names blasted military coups and elections in several African countries marked by 害羞草研究所渃orruption, intimidation and violence.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所� Called for a 害羞草研究所渞espectful diplomatic dialogue害羞草研究所� with the Nicaraguan government to resolve what he called a 害羞草研究所減rotracted crisis.害羞草研究所� The government害羞草研究所檚 has resulted in the detention of dozens of priests and bishops. The government has accused the church of aiding popular protests against his administration that he considered an attempted coup.
害羞草研究所� Called for the resumption, as early as possible, of 害羞草研究所渢o ensure a safer future for all.害羞草研究所� Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had increased the rate at which it is producing near-weapons-grade uranium, reversing a previous slowdown.
Francis also said that the 害羞草研究所渕anufacturing害羞草研究所� of nuclear weapons was just as immoral as the possession and use of them. Francis has already changed church teaching to include the possession of nuclear weapons as inadmissible, but on Monday he included the production of such weapons as part of his overall criticism of the weapons industry.
害羞草研究所淧erhaps we need to realize more clearly that civilian victims are not 害羞草研究所榗ollateral damage害羞草研究所� (of war) but men and women, with names and surnames, who lost their lives,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hey are children who are orphaned and deprived of their future.害羞草研究所�
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