Pope Leo XIV has called on world leaders to enact a global ban on surrogacy, warning that modern policies are increasingly turning human life into a commodity.
The pontiff made the call on January 9 while delivering his annual “State of the World” address to ambassadors representing 184 countries at the Vatican. In the wide-ranging speech, Pope Leo XIV spoke firmly on issues he said pose a grave threat to human dignity, with special emphasis on the unborn and vulnerable women.
According to the Holy Father, contemporary practices are gradually reducing human life to transactions and contracts, a trend he described as the dangerous “commercialisation of life.”
Speaking directly on surrogacy, Pope Leo XIV said the practice “turns both children and women into objects of contracts and financial exchange.” He warned that such arrangements often exploit economically vulnerable women while stripping children of their inherent dignity and identity.
The pope stressed that no ideology, technological advancement, or economic interest should take precedence over the sanctity of human life. “Human dignity must always come before ideology,” he stated, urging governments to resist policies that prioritise profit and convenience over moral responsibility.
He further called for stronger international protections for the unborn, insisting that true progress must be rooted in respect for life at every stage, from conception onward.
The address has since sparked global discussion, particularly among human rights groups, religious bodies, and policymakers, as debates over surrogacy, reproductive ethics, and the protection of life continue to intensify worldwide.