Pope Francis calls for a ban on 'deplorable' practice of surrogacy

Pope Francis has called for a global ban on surrogacy.

This follows a speech in Vatican City on Monday, January 8 where the pope said surrogacy was “deplorable.”

The pope went on to say: “I deem deplorable 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’s material needs. A child is always a gift and never the basis of a commercial contract.”

Italy is among many other countries who prohibit all forms of surrogacy and Pope Francis hopes efforts will be made internationally to “prohibit this practice universally.”

The pope concluded his speech by saying: “At every moment of its existence, human life must be preserved and defended.”