POPE FRANCIS has reportedly compared abortion of children with foetal anomalies to Nazi eugenics.
According to the Associated Press, the Pontiff was speaking at a meeting of an Italian family association.
He reportedly urged families to accept children “as God gives them to us” rather than carry out antenatal screening tests for genetic abnormalities.
“Last century, the whole world was scandalised by what the Nazis did to purify the race,” Associated Press reported the Pontiff as saying.
“Today, we do the same thing but with white gloves.”
However Pope Francis also urged greater respect and compassion for women who have been taken advantage of.
At his morning homily on Friday, he said: “How many of you pray for these women who are thrown away, for these women who are used, for these girls who have to sell their own dignity to have a job?”
The Pontiff is due to visit Ireland in August, just months after the country voted to legalise abortion up to 12 weeks.
