Pope Leo defends life, rejects assisted dying

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, France, on September 27, 2026./SCREENGRAB Pope Leo XIV has condemned medically assisted dying, describing it as immoral and warning against what he called “false compassion” towards people living with serious illnesses.

The Pope made the remarks on Sunday during Mass at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, a major Catholic pilgrimage site associated with reported miraculous cures.

“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,” he added.

The remarks came on the third day of his visit to France, where the debate over assisted dying has intensified following legislation allowing adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication.