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Pope Leo condemns abortion and euthanasia during visit to Lourdes
During a recent visit to Lourdes, France, Pope Leo spoke about the value of human life and condemned euthanasia and abortion.
Pope Leo recently took a trip to Lourdes, France, a site associated with miraculous healings.
In statements to a group which included wheelchair users, he denied cultural portrayals of the ill and disabled as burdens.
His theme throughout his trip to France was the sanctity of life.
Pope Leo spoke against both abortion and euthanasia, specifically criticizing France's government for legalizing both.
Pope Leo made a four-day trip to France, under the motto of “That the world might have life.”
During the trip, he visited the shrine at Lourdes, which is often associated with miraculous healing. There, he spoke against euthanasia and abortion before a crowd of over 150,000 people, many of whom were reportedly wheelchair users. He also spoke at a care center for the ill on the shrine's grounds, telling residents that their lives have value, and that no law can eliminate their inherent dignity.
"No human law should make you lose the certainty of your dignity," he said. "It is impossible to consider it normal to give death. What is legal is not necessarily moral. Here in Lourdes, City of Sickness and Hope, I call on the whole community of those who dream to remember the profound meaning of their vocation, the link to suffering and not to suppress it."
He repeatedly denied the notion of the disabled being a burden, saying instead, “You are the beating heart of our humanity and a precious treasure for the Church.”
The pope also criticized using algorithms to decide what someone's life may be worth, whether in abortion or euthanasia. “No one ever has the right on the basis of laboratory algorithms, to decide the life of a given embryo or elderly person!” he said. “Medicine must never become the servant of programmed death.”
Assisted suicide was criticized as "false compassion," and he pointed out that what is legal is not always moral. He said:
“In the face of current trends that seek to redefine the value of human life in illness, suffering and old age, the grotto of Massabielle stands as a place of Christian hope. Here, no one is turned away due to their frailty.
Your crutches, your wheelchairs and your hidden tears are not obstacles; instead, they are the very place where you are fully respected and welcomed, and where you can experience a transforming encounter with the infinite love of God."
He also encouraged French bishops, who have been fiercely opposing the legalization of assisted suicide in France, which took effect in August:
"The voice of the church has every right to be present in public debate in France. Even if it is not always heard, it is expected. Even if it is not followed, particularly on essential questions touching the foundations of civilization, it is necessary; do not doubt this.
I know your determination and your courage — you demonstrated them clearly during the recent debates on the end of life — and I invite you to persevere, together with all people of good will who defend the same values."
France, once a staunchly Catholic country, has become extremely secular, and in recent years, further cemented a culture of death.
In 2024, France was the first country in the world to make abortion a constitutional 'right.' Abortion was decriminalized in France in 1975, and was initially legalized through 14 weeks of pregnancy. While preborn children remain protected from abortion after 14 weeks of pregnancy in theory, abortions can be committed later in pregnancy if two physicians agree it is necessary to save the woman's life, or to prevent injury to her physical or mental health — the latter of which creates a large loophole for abortion to happen for virtually any reason.
This summer, France also legalized assisted suicide and euthanasia. The law took effect on August 19, and allows French citizens or long-term residents with serious, incurable, and life-threatening conditions considered to be advanced or terminal to die.
They are required to self-administer the lethal drugs, unless they are physically unable to do so, in which case a doctor can legally kill them.
The culture of death is invasive and disturbing, confirming views that insinuate some lives are not worth living. Yet as Pope Leo said, every life has dignity and value, no matter what a nation's laws may say.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
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·Pope Leo condemns abortion and euthanasia during visit to Lourdes
During a recent visit to Lourdes, France, Pope Leo spoke about the value of human life and condemned euthanasia and abortion.
Pope Leo recently took a trip to Lourdes, France, a site associated with miraculous healings.
In statements to a group which included wheelchair users, he denied cultural portrayals of the ill and disabled as burdens.
His theme throughout his trip to France was the sanctity of life.
Pope Leo spoke against both abortion and euthanasia, specifically criticizing France's government for legalizing both.
Pope Leo made a four-day trip to France, under the motto of “That the world might have life.”
During the trip, he visited the shrine at Lourdes, which is often associated with miraculous healing. There, he spoke against euthanasia and abortion before a crowd of over 150,000 people, many of whom were reportedly wheelchair users. He also spoke at a care center for the ill on the shrine's grounds, telling residents that their lives have value, and that no law can eliminate their inherent dignity.
"No human law should make you lose the certainty of your dignity," he said. "It is impossible to consider it normal to give death. What is legal is not necessarily moral. Here in Lourdes, City of Sickness and Hope, I call on the whole community of those who dream to remember the profound meaning of their vocation, the link to suffering and not to suppress it."
He repeatedly denied the notion of the disabled being a burden, saying instead, “You are the beating heart of our humanity and a precious treasure for the Church.”
The pope also criticized using algorithms to decide what someone's life may be worth, whether in abortion or euthanasia. “No one ever has the right on the basis of laboratory algorithms, to decide the life of a given embryo or elderly person!” he said. “Medicine must never become the servant of programmed death.”
Assisted suicide was criticized as "false compassion," and he pointed out that what is legal is not always moral. He said:
“In the face of current trends that seek to redefine the value of human life in illness, suffering and old age, the grotto of Massabielle stands as a place of Christian hope. Here, no one is turned away due to their frailty.
Your crutches, your wheelchairs and your hidden tears are not obstacles; instead, they are the very place where you are fully respected and welcomed, and where you can experience a transforming encounter with the infinite love of God."
He also encouraged French bishops, who have been fiercely opposing the legalization of assisted suicide in France, which took effect in August:
"The voice of the church has every right to be present in public debate in France. Even if it is not always heard, it is expected. Even if it is not followed, particularly on essential questions touching the foundations of civilization, it is necessary; do not doubt this.
I know your determination and your courage — you demonstrated them clearly during the recent debates on the end of life — and I invite you to persevere, together with all people of good will who defend the same values."
France, once a staunchly Catholic country, has become extremely secular, and in recent years, further cemented a culture of death.
In 2024, France was the first country in the world to make abortion a constitutional 'right.' Abortion was decriminalized in France in 1975, and was initially legalized through 14 weeks of pregnancy. While preborn children remain protected from abortion after 14 weeks of pregnancy in theory, abortions can be committed later in pregnancy if two physicians agree it is necessary to save the woman's life, or to prevent injury to her physical or mental health — the latter of which creates a large loophole for abortion to happen for virtually any reason.
This summer, France also legalized assisted suicide and euthanasia. The law took effect on August 19, and allows French citizens or long-term residents with serious, incurable, and life-threatening conditions considered to be advanced or terminal to die.
They are required to self-administer the lethal drugs, unless they are physically unable to do so, in which case a doctor can legally kill them.
The culture of death is invasive and disturbing, confirming views that insinuate some lives are not worth living. Yet as Pope Leo said, every life has dignity and value, no matter what a nation's laws may say.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
Bridget Sielicki
·Issues
Bridget Sielicki
·Issues
Bridget Sielicki
·Guest Column
Bryan Lawrence Gonsalves
·Issues
Bridget Sielicki
·Human Interest
Isabella Childs
·Politics
Cassy Cooke
·Analysis
Cassy Cooke
·Politics
Cassy Cooke
·International
Cassy Cooke
·International
Cassy Cooke
·