Pope Leo XIV Condemns Assisted Dying as 'False Compassion' in Lourdes Address

Pope Leo XIV used an address at the Catholic pilgrimage site of Lourdes on Sunday to condemn assisted dying, telling believers gathered there to "reject the temptation to cause death under the guise of false compassion."

The pontiff described assisted dying as "not normal," according to remarks delivered during his visit to the southern French shrine, a site that draws millions of Catholic pilgrims each year, many seeking healing or spiritual comfort.

The pope's comments come after France's parliament passed legislation in June establishing a right to assisted dying for some adults suffering from incurable conditions, a measure that marked a significant shift in French law on end-of-life care. The legislation has been the subject of extended debate in France, drawing support from advocates who argue it gives terminally ill patients greater autonomy over their final days, and opposition from religious leaders and others who view it as incompatible with the sanctity of life.

Leo XIV's remarks align him with the Catholic Church's longstanding opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide, a position rooted in church teaching that regards the deliberate ending of life, even to relieve suffering, as morally impermissible. By framing the practice as "false compassion," the pope directly countered one of the central arguments made by proponents of assisted dying laws, who often describe such measures as an act of mercy toward the suffering.

Lourdes, in southwestern France, has served as a Catholic pilgrimage destination since the mid-19th century, when a young girl reported visions there that the Church later recognized as apparitions of the Virgin Mary. The site's religious significance made it a resonant backdrop for the pope's remarks on end-of-life issues, delivered before a large gathering of the faithful.

The address in Lourdes formed part of a broader visit by the pope to France, during which he engaged with both the pilgrimage site's religious traditions and the country's contemporary social debates.