Speaking on Friday, January 9, to diplomats from 184 nations with diplomatic ties to the Holy See, Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful message about the sanctity of life. He called life “a gift to be cherished,” emphasizing that the family is “its responsible guardian.”
As part of this vision, Pope Leo condemned practices that exploit the origin and development of life. “We categorically reject any practice that denies or exploits the origin of life and its development,” he said.
On the topic of abortion, he remarked:
“Among these is abortion, which cuts short a growing life and refuses to welcome the gift of life. In this regard, the Holy See expresses deep concern about projects aimed at financing cross-border mobility for the purpose of accessing the so-called ‘right to safe abortion.’”
He further criticized the misuse of public funds in this regard, calling it “deplorable” that resources are directed “to suppress life, rather than being invested to support mothers and families.”
“The primary objective must remain the protection of every unborn cchild and the effective and concrete support of every woman so that she is able to welcome life,” Pope Leo added.
Turning to surrogacy, Which is a gestational arrangement in which a woman carries and delivers a child for another person or couple, often in exchange for compensation or other agreements, Pope Leo described it as a practice that transforms gestation “into a negotiable service.
“This violates the dignity both of the child, who is reduced to a ‘product,’ and of the mother, exploiting her body and the generative process, and distorting the original relational calling of the family,” he said.
Pope Leo’s address was a solemn call to safeguard human dignity, honor life in all its stages, and respect the family as the primary guardian of life.
