Pope Leo XIV Condemns Assisted Dying as ‘False Compassion’ During Lourdes Pilgrimage

Speaking at the Catholic shrine of Lourdes in France on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV issued a stark rebuke of legalized assisted dying, describing the practice as an expression of “false compassion” and fundamentally immoral. The pontiff addressed a crowd that included many attendees in wheelchairs, emphasizing that human dignity remains intact regardless of physical condition or pain.

“It is precisely in the name of this inalienable dignity of the human person that we must reject the temptation to cause death under the guise of false compassion,” Leo said, drawing applause from those gathered. He further noted, “What is legal is not necessarily moral,” reaffirming the Vatican’s longstanding stance against euthanasia and medically assisted suicide.

The visit marks the third day of the Pope’s trip to France, a country where end-of-life legislation recently passed, allowing adults with incurable illnesses to access lethal medication. The issue had been a contentious fixture in French politics for years prior to the law’s enactment. Throughout the tour, which has drawn massive crowds—including 800,000 people at a Mass in Paris—Leo has consistently advocated for the protection of life from conception to natural death.

At Lourdes, renowned for its recognized miraculous cures, Leo encouraged the suffering that “no law or algorithm can eliminate.” He told pilgrims, “Your crutches, your wheelchairs and your hidden tears are not obstacles; instead, they are the very place where you are fully respected and welcomed.”

Beyond the debate on assisted dying, the Pope’s itinerary addressed the Catholic Church’s clergy sexual abuse crisis. Leo was scheduled to meet with seven survivors later on Sunday. This gathering follows a 2021 independent report that estimated 330,000 children were abused over seven decades by approximately 3,000 clergy and church workers in France. While the methodology of that report faced criticism, French bishops established a compensation system that has so far approved payouts exceeding 20 million euros ($22.7 million).

During a morning meeting with French bishops, Leo praised their efforts to support victims but acknowledged that the abuse scandal has contributed to a decline in priestly vocations, as the priesthood is increasingly viewed with suspicion. “For priestly vocations to flourish, the priest must be welcomed, accepted, and loved,” he stated.

Some abuse survivors expressed frustration prior to the trip, releasing an open letter published by the newspaper Liberation. They called on the Church to step down from acting as both judge and party in abuse cases and criticized the selection process that limited the papal meeting to just seven individuals. Monsignor Pierre-Antoine Bozo, spokesperson for the French bishops’ conference, defended the small group size, stating it was intended to facilitate a more intimate and effective listening experience.

Leo also faced scrutiny regarding the case of Rev. Marko Rupnik, a Jesuit mosaic artist currently on trial in a Vatican court. Rupnik is accused by more than two dozen women of abuse dating back to the 1990s, allegations that his superiors allegedly covered up for thirty years. Previous Pope Francis ordered a canonical trial in 2024 amidst media pressure. Five women abused by Rupnik praised the decision to cover his mosaics at a Lourdes basilica but condemned the prolonged silence surrounding their case as additional violence.