Pope Francis has called for a ban on surrogate motherhood, describing it as a “despicable” practice that turns unborn children into objects of trafficking.
Surrogacy is already illegal in some countries, including Italy.
The pope in an annual speech to ambassadors, said the idea of surrogacy is “a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child,” and a tool of “exploitation”.
“I 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’s material needs.
“Consequently, I express my hope for an effort by the international community to prohibit this practice universally.” the Pope said.