Pope expresses deep concern about ongoing conflict in Middle East and deplores practice of surrogacy

Pope Francis has expressed his deep concern about the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine and deplored the practice of “so-called surrogate motherhood” in his annual ‘State of the World’ address to members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See.

The pope opened his address by condemning the October 7 attacks on the Israeli people and renewed his condemnation of “this act and every instance of terrorism and extremism.” The pope also expressed deep sorrow at the death of tens of thousands of Palestinians, including many young people and children, which has caused a humanitarian crisis and inconceivable suffering.

The pope renewed his appeal for a ceasefire and the immediate liberation of all hostages held in Gaza, and urged authorities to ensure that humanitarian aid gets through to the Palestinian people, and that hospitals, schools and places of worship receive “all necessary protection.”

The pope also called for respect for every human life, including the life of the unborn child, and deplored the practice of “so-called surrogate motherhood”, which the pope said, “represents a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and a child, based on the exploitation of situations of the mother’s material needs.” A child, the pope said, “is always a gift and never the basis of a commercial contract.” He expressed his hope that the international community would “universally prohibit” the practice.

The pope also touched on the issue of assisted suicide and euthanasia, expressing his regret for the “continued spread of the culture of death”, which, “in the name of false compassion discards children, the elderly and the sick.”

The pope also expressed his sadness at the ongoing war in Ukraine, conflicts in Africa, and the immorality of manufacturing and possessing nuclear weapons.

He talked about migration and described the Mediterranean as a “cemetery” and called on nations to instead make it into a “place of encounter and mutual enrichment between individuals, peoples and cultures.”

You can access the pope’s full address here: To members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See (8 January 2024) | Francis (vatican.va)