Pope Leo blasts assisted dying as ‘false compassion’ at French shrine known for miraculous cures, tell me about this news in (https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/27/pope-leo-assisted-dying-french-shrine/)
27-09-2026
During his visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in southwestern France on Sunday, September 27, 2026, Pope Leo XIV strongly condemned the legalization of medically assisted dying, describing it as an immoral form of “false compassion.”
Key Details of the NewsSetting and Significance: Lourdes is one of the Catholic Church’s most prominent pilgrimage destinations, celebrated by believers worldwide for miraculous cures and healings of the sick and disabled. Speaking before approximately 150,000 pilgrimsmany using wheelchairs and crutchesthe Pope highlighted the sanctuary as a place where the vulnerable and suffering are welcomed and valued.
Critique of Assisted Dying Laws: Addressing the recent legislative moves in France that permit adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal end-of-life medication, Pope Leo reiterated the Church’s doctrine that all human life must be protected from conception to natural death. He argued that “what is legal is not necessarily moral” and insisted that ending a life cannot be treated as a normal act of healthcare.
Message to the Sick: During a visit to a care facility on the shrine’s grounds, he offered encouragement to those living in severe pain, emphasizing that every individual possesses an inalienable dignity that cannot be erased by legislation or societal convenience.
Context of the Papal Visit: The remarks came on the third day of Pope Leo’s visit to France, where his public addresses repeatedly focused on Catholic teachings regarding the sanctity of life, opposing both abortion and assisted dying amid heated national and European political debates over end-of-life legislation.