Olivia Maurel, a leading advocate against surrogacy, recently praised Pope Francis for his condemnation of the practice, often described as "womb renting." Maurel, born via surrogacy in the United States in 1991, has been vocal about the psychological toll and ethical quandaries associated with surrogacy, a topic that has gained attention amidst celebrity surrogacy stories.

Maurel's life has been marked by profound challenges, including abandonment trauma, identity issues, and suicide attempts, stemming from her surrogacy origins. "I’ve always felt it inside me — a baby made to order, a commodity for money," Maurel expressed, highlighting the often overlooked negative outcomes of surrogacy.

While surrogacy remains legal in many U.S. states, the practice is banned across most European Union countries due to ethical and human rights concerns. Advocates like Jennifer Lahl, president of the Center for Bioethics and Culture, cite alarming incidents of surrogate mothers facing health risks, trauma, and even death.

The ethical debate intensified with the recent arrest of a Chicago man accused of planning to assault his surrogate-born child, spotlighting the risks and potential for exploitation in surrogacy agreements.

Pope Francis has been a staunch opponent of surrogacy, labeling it a "deplorable" practice that undermines the dignity of women and children. His call for a global ban resonated with Maurel, who, despite her atheistic and feminist views, sought the Pope's support in advocating for the abolition of surrogacy.

Maurel's outreach to the Pope and her role as the spokeswoman for the Casablanca Declaration for the Abolition of Surrogacy underscore a growing movement against surrogacy. Her participation in a Rome conference on the issue, closely tied to the Vatican's upcoming publication of a document addressing moral questions related to surrogacy, signals a pivotal moment in the fight for the rights and dignity of women and children involved in surrogacy agreements.

As the debate continues, Maurel's story and advocacy work highlight the complex ethical, psychological, and legal issues surrounding surrogacy, prompting a call for reevaluation of the practice on a global scale.