# Slovakia's thousands march for life in Bratislava

> Pope Leo XIV backs Slovakia's fifth National March for Life as bishops push for complete surrogacy ban.
- Title: Slovakia's thousands march for life in Bratislava | Shortify
- Summary: Pope Leo XIV backs Slovakia's fifth National March for Life as bishops push for complete surrogacy ban. Slovakia's Catholic Church is mobilizing thousands to…
- Keywords: slovakia, bratislava, march for life, catholic church, slovak bishops conference, pope leo xiv, surrogacy ban, abortion, protecting life, ivan ružička, religion, world
- Source: Vaticannews — https://vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-09/slovakia-bratislava-march-for-life-bishops-conference.html
- Author: Vatican News
- Published: 2026-09-20T12:05:15.068+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: slovakia, bratislava, march for life, catholic church, slovak bishops conference, pope leo xiv, surrogacy ban, abortion, protecting life, ivan ružička, religion, world
## Thousands march for life in Bratislava
On September 20, 2026, thousands gathered in Bratislava's Freedom Square for Slovakia's fifth National March for Life, organized by the Slovak Bishops' Conference.
## Pope sends message of support
Pope Leo XIV told participants the march should awaken awareness of life as a precious gift from God to be protected from conception to natural death.

> a moment of prayer and witness, awakening a renewed awareness of the precious gift of life
## Bishops focus on dignity and protection
Father Ivan Ružička, Secretary General of the Slovak Bishops' Conference, said the march aims to stand for human dignity from conception until natural death.

> We came together to stand for the dignity of every human life, from conception until natural death
## Supporting women in difficult situations
The bishops want to ensure no mother feels abortion is her only option by providing assistance to women and families facing hardship.

> No mother should feel that abortion is her only option
## Bishops demand complete surrogacy ban
Father Ružička called for a complete legal ban on surrogacy in Slovakia, saying a child cannot be an object of contract and a woman's body should not fulfill others' wishes.

> a child can never become an object of a contract, and a woman's body should not become a means
## Petition seeks stronger surrogacy legislation
Organizers say the current Parliament proposal only prohibits certain surrogacy forms, so they're petitioning for a complete ban on all agreements to bear a child for another person.
## Key takeaway

Slovakia's Catholic Church is mobilizing thousands to protect life from conception to natural death, while specifically targeting surrogacy through new legislation.