Pope says assisted dying not ‘normal’

On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV stated that assisted dying is not "normal" while addressing believers who are sick or suffering from disabilities at a pilgrimage site in Lourdes, France. The remarks were delivered during a landmark visit to the country, coming shortly after the French parliament legalized assisted dying for certain patients.

During his address, the Pope emphasized human worth, telling the congregation that no human law should cause individuals to lose the certainty of their inherent dignity. The visit places the Catholic Church's opposition to the practice directly in the spotlight within a nation that has recently enacted legislation permitting it under specific conditions.