Pope Leo XIV has delivered a powerful defence of unborn life before Spain’s parliament, declaring that every human life must be protected “from conception to its natural end” and warning against a growing “throwaway culture” that devalues the most vulnerable members of society.
Addressing members of the Spanish Parliament in Madrid on Monday, the Pope challenged politicians to consider what kind of society is created when unborn children, the elderly, and the sick are treated as burdens rather than persons with inherent dignity.
“Every human life must be recognised and safeguarded from conception to its natural end, in every circumstance of its existence,” Pope Leo said.
“Through this principle, the moral greatness of a nation is manifested.”
The Pope’s intervention comes as Spain continues to pursue some of Europe’s most permissive social policies. Abortion is widely available, euthanasia was legalised in 2021, and politicians are considering constitutional changes that would further entrench abortion in law.
Repeating a phrase frequently used by Pope Francis, Leo warned that modern societies are increasingly shaped by a “throwaway culture” in which human worth is judged according to usefulness, independence, or productivity.
“Can a community that casts into the shadows the unborn child, the elderly, the sick, those who suffer in silence, or those who depend entirely on the care of others be called fully just?” he asked.
The Pope insisted that defending human life is not simply a matter of religious belief.
“Defence of human life is not a particular or religious interest,” he said. “It is a goal of civilisation.”
The remarks were welcomed by Archbishop Luis Argüello, president of the Spanish bishops’ conference, who said the fundamental question facing modern society is how it understands the value of the human person.
“What is important is that whatever proposals are made, the person be cared for in his or her dignity,” he said.
Although much of Leo’s speech focused on protecting life, he also connected other major issues, including migration and war, to the same principle of human dignity.
Speaking about migration, he argued that discrimination against migrants violates the equal dignity possessed by every human person. He called for policies that both assist migrants and address the conditions that force people to leave their home countries.
The Pope also expressed concern about growing militarisation in Europe, warning against treating rearmament as the inevitable answer to international tensions.
For Leo, these issues are linked by a common question: whether societies recognise the value of every human life.
SPUC CEO John Deighan has thanked the Pope for his statements saying: “We at SPUC thank the Pope Leo for his steadfast defence of the unborn child. We hope that the Spanish parliamentarians who have wrought a deadly culture upon their constituents will be convicted by softly spoken yet impactful words spoken: “every human life must be recognised and safeguarded from conception to its natural end.” SPUC hopes that this message is felt across Europe and the world and brings conviction to those who have aided the destruction of the most innocent members of our human race.
“Britain’s true “moral character” is shown by our acceptance of abortion. That must change.”
