Leo XIV defends life from conception as Andorra prepares to decriminalise abortion
Espot has already said he does not expect explicit Vatican approval
Pope Leo XIV’s defence of life from conception contrasts with the Andorran government’s intention to move towards decriminalising abortion.
The pontiff’s position reflects the Church’s teaching on human dignity and the protection of life at every stage, regardless of a person’s circumstances.
In the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, published in May, Leo XIV places the right to life among the foundations of human rights and rejects induced abortion and euthanasia.
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His position holds that human dignity does not depend on a person’s usefulness or the recognition granted to them by society.
This doctrinal position is not a specific response to Andorra’s proposal, but it forms part of the context in which the government is seeking to introduce a reform compatible with preserving the country’s institutional model.
Espot does not expect Vatican authorisation
Andorra’s head of government, Xavier Espot, explained on 8 September that his administration does not expect express approval from the Holy See to proceed with decriminalisation. “We do not need the Vatican’s approval, as we are a sovereign country”, he said.
However, Espot stressed that the government needs to be confident that the decision will not jeopardise the co-principality. The aim is to secure sufficient political and institutional assurances to move forward, even if the Vatican does not publicly endorse the substance of the reform.
Decriminalisation without legalising the procedure in Andorra
The head of government also distinguished between decriminalising abortion and legalising its provision within Andorra. According to his explanation, the proposal seeks to stop criminalising women who have abortions without authorising the procedure to be carried out in the Principality. Espot said the reform should be approved before the end of the legislative term.
The debate therefore centres on the government’s intention to change the criminal-law treatment of abortion and the Church’s opposition to the practice. The outstanding questions are how the reform will take shape and what assurances will allow the government to argue that the change is compatible with preserving the co-principality.