Vatican Lists Surrogate Motherhood , Among Threats to Global Peace and Human Dignity.<br />On January 8, Pope Francis called for a universal <br />ban on surrogate motherhood, which he called <br />the "commercialization" of pregnancy. .<br />ABC reports that the pontiff made the statement while <br />giving an annual speech listing what the Vatican <br />considers threats to global peace and human dignity.<br />According to Francis, the annual address <br />comes at a time when peace has been , "increasingly threatened, <br />weakened and in some part lost.".<br />The pope reportedly cited Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, <br />Israel's war against Hamas, the worsening climate crisis and <br />the production of both nuclear and conventional weapons.<br />The pope reportedly cited Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, <br />Israel's war against Hamas, the worsening climate crisis and <br />the production of both nuclear and conventional weapons.<br />The pope reportedly cited Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, <br />Israel's war against Hamas, the worsening climate crisis and <br />the production of both nuclear and conventional weapons.<br />Francis also listed smaller-scale <br />problems the Vatican considers <br />threats to peace and human dignity.<br />In regards to surrogacy, Francis said the lives of unborn <br />children need to be protected and must not be , “suppressed or turned into an object of trafficking.”.<br />I consider despicable the practice of <br />so-called surrogate motherhood, <br />which represents a grave violation of <br />the dignity of the woman and the child, <br />based on the exploitation of situations <br />of the mother’s material needs, Pope Francis, via ABC.<br />I consider despicable the practice of <br />so-called surrogate motherhood, <br />which represents a grave violation of <br />the dignity of the woman and the child, <br />based on the exploitation of situations <br />of the mother’s material needs, Pope Francis, via ABC.<br />According to the pope, a child should never be considered, "the basis of a commercial contract," , while calling for a global ban on the practice of surrogacy.<br />ABC reports that critics have accused <br />commercial surrogacy of exploiting <br />women from poor, vulnerable communities.<br />Supporters of the practice say the process <br />gives women a chance to provide childless <br />couples with children of their own
