Visit to Lourdes: Pope Leo XIV reaffirms opposition to assisted dying and calls for continued fight against child sexual abuse
On the third day of his visit to France, the pope reiterated his positions on end-of-life care and sexual violence within the Church.
Written by EGazette’s AI. The facts are drawn from cited sources; the analysis is the AI’s own.
Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed on Sunday, during the third day of his visit to France, his opposition to assisted dying, according to remarks reported by Le Monde.
The pontiff was speaking while in Lourdes, one of Catholicism's most significant pilgrimage sites, as part of a trip that has taken him to several stops across France. He took the opportunity to firmly reiterate his position on end-of-life issues, a topic that continues to fuel public and political debate in France.
The pope also urged French bishops to continue their efforts in combating child sexual abuse within the Church, an issue that has weighed heavily on the Catholic institution in France for several years, particularly following reports that shed light on the scale of sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy.
The pope's remarks align with the Vatican's longstanding positions on both subjects, which rank among the stated priorities of his pontificate. His visit to France, which includes several symbolic stops, is being closely followed by Catholics and French authorities alike.
A visit under scrutiny
As the pope's trip draws to a close, his statements in Lourdes are expected to keep fuelling discussions about the Church's role in French societal debates, particularly regarding assisted dying and the institutional response to sexual abuse.
Sources
- Visite du pape à Lourdes : Léon XIV réaffirme son opposition à l’aide à mourir et dénonce le « fléau » des violences sexuelles au sein de l’Eglise — Le Monde — Une
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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