Pope says assisted dying not 'normal'
Pope Leo XIV has publicly criticized France's new assisted dying legislation, stating that causing death can never be considered normal. He emphasized that human dignity should remain protected regardless of legal changes.
Why it matters
The statement highlights the ongoing tension between religious doctrine and secular legislative trends regarding end-of-life care in Europe.
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday (September 27, 2026) said assisted dying was not "normal", as he continued a landmark visit to France, where Parliament has legalised the practice for certain patients.
"No human law should ever make you lose the certainty of your dignity," he told believers who were sick or suffered from disabilities, at the French pilgrimage site of Lourdes.
"We must reject the temptation to cause death under the guise of false compassion. It is impossible to regard causing death as something normal," he added.
"What is legal is not necessarily moral." France's Parliament passed legislation in June establishing a right to assisted dying for some adults suffering from an incurable condition.
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