Andorra Abortion Decriminalization Push Persists Despite Pope's Rejection

Women's groups and opposition parties in Andorra continue to urge the government to advance decriminalization of abortion for women, undeterred by Pope Leo XIV's firm rejection of the practice in his New Year address to diplomats at the Vatican.

The pope, addressing accredited envoys including Andorra's ambassador Carles Álvarez Marfany, categorically rejected practices that "deny or exploit the origin of life and its development," explicitly naming abortion as an interruption of a growing life, alongside euthanasia and surrogacy. The remarks have fueled debate amid stalled negotiations between the government and the Holy See, with the last formal meeting held in October at the Vatican.

Government spokesperson Guillem Casal, speaking at a Wednesday press conference following a Council of Ministers meeting, insisted the dialogue with the Holy See and Urgell bishopric remains open and active. He clarified the executive's limited aim: removing criminal penalties for women under the penal code, while maintaining sanctions for doctors and avoiding broader legalization. "We are not talking about legalizing abortion or a global decriminalization, but decriminalizing the woman," Casal emphasized, stressing the need for serenity, consensus, and discretion to balance women's rights with Andorra's co-principality framework. He denied any breakdown or abandonment of talks, noting a parliamentary group had requested an update with a meeting forthcoming, and rejected accusations of secrecy.

Women's associations expressed disappointment but pressed ahead. Geli, president of Associació de Dones d'Andorra (ADA), called the pope's stance under Robert Prevost a step backward from his predecessor, clouding not just abortion but euthanasia and surrogacy. "We really thought things were advancing slowly, even if nothing was clear," she said, urging the government to stick to its negotiation plan. ADA seeks decriminalization in at least three cases, leaving wider policy to lawmakers. Laia Ferrer Marot of Acció Feminista described the Church's position as unchanging and rigid, contrasting it with France's constitutional abortion rights under the French co-prince. The group demands full access in Andorra, deeming decriminalization insufficient and insisting women should not need to travel abroad.

Opposition views diverged. Núria Segués of Concòrdia expressed surprise at the pope's words, questioning government-Vatican discussions and noting the dossier had reached a promising stage before stalling amid Vatican and bishopric changes. She pledged to fight for women's bodily autonomy. Susanna Vela of Partit Socialista criticized the "very tough, right-leaning discourse" as closing doors on already-paused talks, calling for political courage to prioritize women's rights over Church influence and demanding the executive guarantee those rights.

Carine Montaner of Andorra Endavant viewed the pope's words as longstanding Church doctrine defending life from conception to natural death, with no novelty. Demòcrates per Andorra similarly downplayed the impact, affirming open dialogue and the unchanged goal of reconciling women's rights with the co-principality model, despite delays from Prime Minister Xavier Espot's end-2025 parliamentary timeline.

Initial optimism after Episcopal Co-Prince Josep-Lluís Serrano's inaugural address supporting women in distress faded, as he omitted the issue in his Christmas speech, highlighting negotiation setbacks.