Pope Leo XIV Condemns Surrogacy, Says it Exploits Life

Pope Leo XIV has criticised surrogacy as a birth option, describing it as a practice that distorts the relational and moral foundation of the family. He made the remarks on January 9, 2026, while addressing members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.

Speaking to diplomats from 184 countries, the pope affirmed that the Catholic Church rejects any practice that denies or exploits the origin of life and its natural development. He described life as a priceless gift to be protected within committed relationships rooted in mutual care and responsibility.

Surrogacy is a form of reproduction technique in which a woman (the surrogate) carries a pregnancy on behalf of a third party—the intended parent. The global surrogacy industry is valued at $27.9 billion, and the United Nations regards the practice as a form of violence against women and girls. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, surrogacy is becoming increasingly common.

Pope Leo XIV said that commercialising gestation reduces the child to a product, exploits women’s reproductive capacity, and undermines the moral foundation of the family. He also criticised the use of public resources to suppress life rather than support mothers and families, urging governments to protect unborn children and provide concrete support to women.

The Casablanca Expert Group for the universal abolition of surrogacy welcomed the pope’s stance. The group, composed of over 150 international experts, lawyers, physicians, academics, and human rights defenders, calls on states and international institutions to prioritise the universal abolition of surrogacy. The organisation noted that surrogacy commodifies women’s bodies and contractualises children, violating fundamental human rights. Spokesperson Olivia Maurel said, 

“This assessment stems neither from ideology nor religion, but from a fundamental requirement of human rights and human dignity.”