Pope Francis called Monday for a universal ban on what he called the 91裸聊视频渄espicable91裸聊视频� practice of surrogate motherhood, as he included the 91裸聊视频渃ommercialization91裸聊视频� of pregnancy in an annual speech listing threats to global peace and human dignity.

In a foreign policy address to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, Francis lamented that 2024 had dawned at a time in which peace is 91裸聊视频渋ncreasingly threatened, weakened and in some part lost.91裸聊视频�

Citing , the , , and the 91裸聊视频渋mmoral91裸聊视频� production of nuclear and conventional weapons, Francis delivered a list of the ills afflicting humanity and the increasing violation of international humanitarian law that allows them.

But Francis also listed smaller-scale issues that he said were threats to peace and human dignity, including surrogacy. He said the life of the unborn child must be protected and not 91裸聊视频渟uppressed or turned into an object of trafficking.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 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 mother91裸聊视频檚 material needs,91裸聊视频� he said.

Saying a child is a gift and 91裸聊视频渘ever the basis of a commercial contract,91裸聊视频� he called for a global ban on surrogacy 91裸聊视频渢o prohibit this practice universally.91裸聊视频�

Francis has previously voiced the Catholic Church91裸聊视频檚 opposition to what he has called 91裸聊视频渦terus for rent.91裸聊视频� At the same time, however, the Vatican91裸聊视频檚 doctrine office has made clear that same-sex parents who resort to surrogacy can have their children baptized.

While commercial surrogacy contracts are common in the United States, including with protections for the mothers, guarantees of independent legal representation and medical coverage, they are banned in parts of Europe including Spain and Italy.

Russia91裸聊视频檚 war in Ukraine, and the threat to babies born to surrogate Ukrainian mothers, exposed the country91裸聊视频檚 thriving industry. Ukraine is one of the few countries that allow surrogacy for foreigners.

Critics say commercial surrogacy targets women who are poor and from vulnerable communities. Supporters say surrogacy gives women a chance to provide children to childless couples, and that commercial contracts protect both the surrogates and the intended parents.

In Italy, where surrogacy has been banned for years, the issue has emerged recently as the conservative government of Premier Giorgia Meloni has opposed registering both parents of children born via surrogacy overseas.

In his geopolitical roundup, Francis in noting the 91裸聊视频渓arge-scale war waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.91裸聊视频� It marked an unusual break with Francis91裸聊视频� usual tendency to spare Moscow direct, public blame for the invasion when expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

Francis was more balanced in his condemning Hamas91裸聊视频� Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel 91裸聊视频渁nd every instance of terrorism and extremism.91裸聊视频� At the same time, he said the attack provoked a 91裸聊视频渟trong Israeli military response91裸聊视频� that had left thousands dead and created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

He called for an immediate cease-fire, including in Lebanon, and the liberation of hostages held in Gaza, and reiterated the Holy See91裸聊视频檚 position seeking a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians and an internationally guaranteed special status for Jerusalem.

In other comments, Francis:

91裸聊视频� Lamented various humanitarian and refugee crises in Africa, and without naming names blasted military coups and elections in several African countries marked by 91裸聊视频渃orruption, intimidation and violence.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频� Called for a 91裸聊视频渞espectful diplomatic dialogue91裸聊视频� with the Nicaraguan government to resolve what he called a 91裸聊视频減rotracted crisis.91裸聊视频� The government91裸聊视频檚 has resulted in the detention of dozens of priests and bishops. The government has accused the church of aiding popular protests against his administration that he considered an attempted coup.

91裸聊视频� Called for the resumption, as early as possible, of 91裸聊视频渢o ensure a safer future for all.91裸聊视频� Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had increased the rate at which it is producing near-weapons-grade uranium, reversing a previous slowdown.

Francis also said that the 91裸聊视频渕anufacturing91裸聊视频� of nuclear weapons was just as immoral as the possession and use of them. Francis has already changed church teaching to include the possession of nuclear weapons as inadmissible, but on Monday he included the production of such weapons as part of his overall criticism of the weapons industry.

91裸聊视频淧erhaps we need to realize more clearly that civilian victims are not 91裸聊视频榗ollateral damage91裸聊视频� (of war) but men and women, with names and surnames, who lost their lives,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hey are children who are orphaned and deprived of their future.91裸聊视频�

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