Pope Leo XIV in France: Euthanasia may be allowed by law, but it remains unethical

During his historic visit to Lourdes, one of France’s most popular pilgrimage destinations, Pope Leo XIV opposed the legalization of assisted dying and euthanasia.

The Holy Father described the practice as a form of “false compassion,” stressing that causing death should never be treated as a normal act.

The speech was delivered before around 150,000 faithful, among them many sick and disabled people. On the third day of his four-day visit to France, the Pope directly addressed recent changes in French legislation. “No human law should ever make you lose the assurance of your dignity. What is legal is not necessarily moral,” Pope Leo declared.

The stance of the head of the Catholic Church was a response to the new law passed by the French Parliament. After a long and fierce ethical and political debate, French authorities granted adults with incurable, terminal illnesses the right to assisted dying.

The Catholic Church in France had opposed the bill from the start. The legislation stipulates that patients who meet strict medical criteria must take the lethal substance themselves, except when they are physically unable to do so.

The Vatican continues to hold a firm stance against euthanasia, defending the principle that human life must be protected from conception until natural death.

During his stay in France, the Pope also criticized social trends that turn science and medicine into profit-driven industries. In this context, he mentioned genetic manipulation and surrogacy. The visit marked the first official trip by a pope to France in nearly two decades.