On Monday, the Vatican released a statement denouncing the practice of so-called “gender-affirming” surgery and surrogacy for individuals who believe themselves to be “transgender,” declaring it to be a violation of human dignity and an insult to God.

As reported by ABC News, the 20-page statement, titled “Infinite Dignity,” was released by the Vatican’s doctrine office; the document had allegedly been in development for the last five years, and was finally approved by Pope Francis on March 25th.

The statement was seen as a shock by many, as Pope Francis had consistently espoused left-wing talking points and displayed more openness to transgenderism than any past Pope. Nevertheless, the new declaration rejects the concept of “gender theory,” which states that anyone can simply change their gender at any given time, as this is a defiance of God’s creation of man and woman, and can essentially lead to an individual trying to “make oneself God.”

“It follows that any sex-change intervention, as a rule, risks threatening the unique dignity the person has received from the moment of conception,” the document reads. It acknowledged the few rare cases of “genital abnormalities” which may be present when a child is born, and admits that such cases can be treated by medical professionals, while completely rejecting the practice of “gender-affirmation” surgeries, where a perfectly healthy person has their genitals mutilated in order to match their delusions.

Far-left activists, including pro-LGBTQ “Catholics,” denounced the document and demanded that Pope Francis instead acknowledge the “infinite dignity” of all people.

“While it lays out a wonderful rationale for why each human being, regardless of condition in life, must be respected, honored, and loved, it does not apply this principle to gender-diverse people,” said Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry, a pro-LGBTQ Catholic organization.

Joe Biden’s White House released its own statement in response, claiming that the document is a victory for the LGBTQ crowd; the statement said that Biden, who considers himself Catholic, was “pleased” that the statement “furthers the Vatican’s call to ensure that LGBTQ+ (individuals) are protected from violence and imprisonment around the world.”