Pope Leo XIV addressed a gathering of approximately 5,000 sick individuals and caregivers at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes on September 27, 2026, to denounce France’s recent legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide. The pontiff argued that ending the lives of the ill is not an act of compassion but a violation of human dignity.
The speech came shortly after France became the fifth European nation to permit these practices this summer. Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Spain have previously legalized euthanasia or assisted suicide. Switzerland and Austria currently allow assisted suicide under specific legal frameworks.
Dignity Over Legalization
Speaking to staff and guests of Accueil Notre-Dame, a residential healthcare facility for pilgrims, the Pope emphasized that legal status does not determine moral rightness. He stated that killing the sick is neither compassionate nor normal behavior.
“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,” the Pontiff said.
The Catholic Church has long prohibited both euthanasia and assisted dying, teaching that every human life possesses inherent worth regardless of health status or age. Pope Leo XIV referenced a June address he delivered to the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation, where he discussed the rights of embryos and elderly persons.
A Message of Hope
The Pope acknowledged the suffering faced by those with severe illnesses. He sought to reassure attendees that their worth remains intact despite physical decline or pain.
“I know that for some of you, because of particular illnesses and, at times, terrible pain, your horizon may appear dark, uncertain and without hope. But no human law should ever make you lose the certainty of your dignity,” Pope Leo XIV said.
Earlier on September 27, the Pope met with the French bishops’ conference. He praised their public opposition to the new legislation, aligning the hierarchy’s stance with magisterial teaching on the sanctity of life.
The Sanctuary Context
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes attracts more than 3 million visitors annually. The site is central to Catholic devotion regarding healing and suffering. St. Bernadette Soubirous reported 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary beginning on February 11, 1858, at the Grotto of Massabielle.
Since those initial visions, visitors have reported approximately 7,000 healings. The Church has officially declared 72 of these recoveries to be miraculous. The sanctuary grounds cover 136 acres, including the grotto where the apparitions occurred.
During his visit, Pope Leo XIV also met with Discalced Carmelite nuns at a monastery founded in 1876. The religious community resides across the Gave de Pau river from the grotto, established 18 years after Mary’s appearance to St. Bernadette.
The Pope highlighted the essential role of healthcare workers in supporting the vulnerable. He specifically mentioned doctors, nurses, stretcher-bearers, chaplains, and pastoral teams who serve those facing illness and end-of-life challenges.