Pope Leo XIV Condemns Assisted Suicide, Cites 'False Compassion'

Pope Leo XIV has called for an end to medically assisted suicide, describing it as a form of "false compassion" during a visit to medical facilities in Lourdes, France, on Sunday.

Speaking to a large crowd after celebrating Mass, the pontiff affirmed the inherent dignity of every human life and cautioned against the practice. "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," he stated in French.

He emphasized that causing death cannot be considered normal, adding, "What is legal is not necessarily moral." Addressing healthcare workers directly, the Pope urged them to remember the core meaning of their vocation: to care for suffering individuals, not to eliminate them. He asserted that "no one ever has the right based on laboratory algorithms to decide the life of a given embryo or elderly person." "Medicine must never become the servant of programmed death," he declared.

Assisted suicide is legal in several Western countries, including France. The practice has drawn criticism globally, particularly in Canada, where it has seen increased utilization. Recently, the family of an 83-year-old Canadian woman questioned the circumstances surrounding her death via the country's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program. According to reports, her granddaughter stated that the woman had become distraught when the implications of the procedure were clarified, and later expressed regret.

The granddaughter recounted that during one of the MAID assessments, the physician allegedly used euphemisms and avoided direct language about death. She stated the doctor described the procedure as administering medicine to bring peace and noted the patient would not have a bowel movement. When the granddaughter intervened, pointing out her grandmother's lack of full understanding, the doctor reportedly assured that they would ensure no more pain. Despite being deemed fit for MAID, the granddaughter later communicated with her grandmother, who allegedly began to cry and said she had "made a mistake." While the grandmother was told she could refuse the procedure on the day it was scheduled, her granddaughter expressed uncertainty about her true consent and chose not to add further stress, wanting to cherish their remaining time together.