Pope Francis Continues Opposition to Euthanasia During Lourdes Visit

Pope Francis is bringing his strong opposition to euthanasia and medically assisted dying to Lourdes, the French Catholic shrine renowned for its miraculous cures. The visit also includes engagements addressing the church's response to clergy sexual abuse.

During his four-day trip to France, the pontiff has consistently called for a renewed respect for life, aligning with Catholic doctrine that all human life should be protected from conception to natural death. This stance directly opposes abortion and medically assisted dying, policies recently advanced in France.

In 2024, France's National Assembly enshrined abortion as a constitutional right and subsequently approved legislation permitting adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication. The presence of the Pope in Lourdes, where the Catholic Church has officially recognized 72 "miraculous" cures, highlights the critical question of how to uphold the dignity of the most frail, sick, and vulnerable individuals.

Lourdes has also become a site of healing for survivors of clergy sexual abuse. Pope Francis was scheduled to meet with seven victims on Sunday, acknowledging the ongoing challenges the church faces regarding the abuse crisis.

The French Catholic Church has been confronting its history of abuse, with an independent report in 2021 estimating that approximately 330,000 children were abused over seven decades by around 3,000 priests and church workers. In response, French bishops established an independent compensation system that has recommended payouts exceeding 20 million euros ($22.7 million) to victims.

Prior to the Pope's arrival in Paris, a group of victims released an open letter urging him to acknowledge the church's responsibility and criticizing the selection process for the survivors meeting him, asserting that victims' groups should have chosen the participants. They stated, "The Church must relinquish its position as both judge and party to the proceedings."

The visit also brings attention to a contentious abuse case inherited from Pope Francis's predecessor. The façade of one of Lourdes' basilicas features artwork by Marko Rupnik, a mosaic artist facing accusations from more than two dozen women of psychological, spiritual, and sexual abuse dating back to the 1990s. Rupnik's case, which was allegedly covered up by his Jesuit superiors for three decades, is currently undergoing a canonical trial in the Vatican.

In response to the ongoing controversy surrounding Rupnik's art, Lourdes Bishop Jean-Marc Micas made the decision in 2024 to stop illuminating the Notre Dame du Rosaire Basilica's façade at night, subsequently ordering the decorated doors covered and the mosaics concealed entirely. This measure was taken to ensure that abuse victims seeking healing in Lourdes would not be confronted with the artwork.

Pope Francis arrived in Lourdes on Saturday evening, praying inside the Grotto of Apparitions and drinking from the spring before attending scheduled meetings and celebrating Mass.