Pope Leo XIV urges defense of life and family, condemns abortion and surrogacy in his first English address to diplomats at the Holy See.
Newsroom (09/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) In his first official annual address to diplomats accredited to the Holy See, Pope Leo placed the defense of life and the preservation of family at the center of his moral appeal, warning that the world faces “two crucial challenges” that threaten the very foundation of society. Speaking in English for the first time in the history of these papal addresses, the pontiff used the occasion to outline a vision of family and life rooted in love, service, and respect for human dignity.
The pope described the family as the “privileged and unique” setting where humanity learns to love and serve life. “It is in this context that we learn to love and foster the capacity to serve life, thus contributing to the development of society and the Church’s mission,” he said, emphasizing the family’s indispensable place in human and spiritual formation.
Yet, Leo warned that this vital institution is increasingly under strain. “On the one hand, there is a worrying tendency in the international system to neglect and underestimate its fundamental social role, leading to its progressive institutional marginalization,” he said. “On the other hand, we cannot ignore the growing and painful reality of fragile, broken and suffering families, afflicted by internal difficulties and disturbing phenomena, including domestic violence.”
A Defense of the Unborn
The pope spoke forcefully on what he described as a “fundamental ethical imperative” within the family—to “welcome and fully care for unborn life.” He lamented the global decline in birth rates, noting that life itself “is a priceless gift that develops within a committed relationship based on mutual self-giving and service.”
Reaffirming the Church’s long-standing position, Leo condemned abortion as a denial of life’s inherent value. “Among these is abortion, which cuts short a growing life and refuses to welcome the gift of life,” he declared. The Holy See, he said, is “deeply concerned” about international initiatives that fund cross-border mobility for access to abortion services. He called it “deplorable that public resources are allocated to suppress life, rather than being invested to support mothers and families.”
“The primary objective must remain the protection of every unborn child and the effective and concrete support of every woman so that she is able to welcome life,” the pope added.
Condemnation of Surrogacy
Leo also denounced surrogacy, describing it as a distortion of the family’s purpose and an exploitation of human life. “By transforming 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,” he said. The practice, he warned, “distorts the original relational calling of the family.”
Life at Every Stage
The pontiff’s message extended beyond the unborn. He urged societies to uphold life at all stages, including for the sick, elderly, and isolated. “Civil society and States also have a responsibility to respond concretely to situations of vulnerability,” he said, advocating for palliative care and policies that promote “authentic solidarity.” He warned against “deceptive forms of compassion such as euthanasia,” insisting that true compassion affirms life even in suffering.
Leo also addressed the crises facing young people, particularly drug addiction. “In order to prevent millions of young people around the world from falling victim to substance abuse, concerted efforts are required to eradicate this scourge upon humanity and the drug trafficking that fuels it,” he said. He urged governments to invest more in education, recovery programs, and job creation as essential steps in rebuilding hope for youth.
A Call to Recenter Human Rights
Concluding his address, Pope Leo warned of a “short circuit” in the contemporary understanding of human rights. He argued that fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, conscience, and religion—along with the right to life—are being restricted under the guise of “new rights.” This, he said, “creates space for force and oppression.”
“This occurs when each right becomes self-referential, and especially when it becomes disconnected from reality, nature and truth,” the pope told the assembled diplomats. For Leo, a society’s true health and progress, he concluded, rests on whether it “safeguards the sanctity of human life and works actively to promote it.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now
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