LOURDES, France — During a visit to the historic French shrine of Lourdes on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV strongly condemned the growing legalization of medically assisted death, labeling it immoral “false compassion.” The Pontiff used the occasion to reaffirm the Catholic Church’s stance on the sanctity of life, addressing crowds of approximately 150,000 pilgrims gathered near the main basilica.
On the third day of his trip to France, Leo once again engaged with the end-of-life debate currently intensifying in his native United States and across Europe. The issue has dominated French political discourse for years, culminating recently in legislative approval allowing adults with incurable illnesses to access lethal medication.
Celebrating Mass on the prairie beside the basilica, many of whom were in wheelchairs, Leo later visited a care center on the sanctuary grounds. He sought to bolster those suffering from severe pain, emphasizing that their inherent dignity cannot be erased by laws or algorithms.
“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 the crowd. “What is legal is not necessarily moral.”
The Pope’s remarks align with core Catholic teaching, which holds that human life must be protected from conception until natural death, thereby opposing both abortion and euthanasia. This year, France’s National Assembly enshrined abortion as a constitutional right and passed its end-of-life bill. Additionally, Leo had previously criticized a medical-aid-in-dying law that became effective on September 12 in Illinois, the 13th U.S. state to permit the practice.
Beyond the theological debate, the Pope dedicated time to addressing the Church’s abuse crisis, meeting with seven survivors of clergy sexual abuse. The encounter, which lasted nearly two hours and included both group and one-on-one discussions, is now a standard fixture of papal foreign visits intended to atone for institutional failures in protecting vulnerable members.
Jean-Marie Delbos, a survivor who attended a press conference following the meeting, described the experience as extraordinary. “I never thought I would have a pope before me,” he said, praising Leo for listening attentively and engaging with their specific cases.
Olivier Mardi, co-founder of the survivor group Voix Libérées de Touraine, characterized Leo as a decisive leader who had thoroughly prepared for the meeting. Mardi noted that the Pope asked precise questions about his case and emphasized the need for continued vigilance against future abuses.
The setting of Lourdes holds particular significance regarding the abuse scandal. Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Lourdes ordered the covering of mosaic panels on the Notre Dame du Rosaire Basilica facade in 2025. The artworks were created by Rev. Marko Rupnik, a Jesuit artist currently facing trial in a Vatican court for allegations of sexual and psychological abuse spanning decades. His superiors are accused of concealing the crimes for 30 years, a cover-up that reportedly involved Pope Francis, who ordered a canonical trial in 2024.
On Sunday, Leo passed the covered mosaics in his popemobile. The mustard-colored curtains, secured with plastic ties, remained visible as he traveled past the basilica.
During a separate morning meeting with French bishops, Leo acknowledged that the decline in priestly vocations is linked to the abuse scandals, noting that the priesthood is now viewed with suspicion. However, he commended the bishops for establishing an independent compensation system for victims, which has so far recommended payouts exceeding 20 million euros ($22.7 million).
“For priestly vocations to flourish, the priest must be welcomed, accepted, and loved,” Leo told the bishops.
Monsignor Pierre-Antoine Bozo, spokesperson for the French bishops’ conference, explained that the Pope intentionally kept the size of the survivor meeting small to ensure an intimate and effective dialogue. “When it comes to listening to them, you can’t have 50 people in front of you,” Bozo said.
Lourdes, located near the Spanish border, has been a major pilgrimage site since the Catholic Church recognized visions of the Virgin Mary reported by a young girl in 1858. The shrine attracts millions of visitors annually, particularly the sick and disabled, who hope to find healing in the waters of the grotto where the apparitions occurred. The Church has officially recognized 72 miraculous cures at the site.
Another papal visit full of strong words, yet the abuse crisis continues decades later. When will tangible action match the rhetoric?
Legal doesn’t mean moral, sure. But what about compassionate care? Palliative care remains inaccessible for so many poor people.
It is quite remarkable that survivors are finally getting a direct audience with the Pope. Hope this leads to real accountability, not just photos.
The detail about those mustard curtains covering Rupnik’s mosaics really says it all about how the Church handles its scandals.
I respect the Pope’s stance, but isn’t ‘false compassion’ a harsh way to describe someone seeking relief from unbearable suffering?