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Pope Leo XIV denounces France’s assisted-dying law at Lourdes

By Drooid · Sep 27, 2026, 11:00 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Pope Leo XIV denounced France's assisted-dying law at Lourdes.
He told 5,000 patients, volunteers and bishops that no human law should erase dignity.
The law took effect on Aug. 19 2026 and applies to adults with incurable conditions who give informed consent.
The law requires patients to self-administer the lethal dose, excluding psychological suffering as a qualifying condition.
He urged healthcare workers to prioritize caring for suffering rather than ending lives.

History

Historical Context

The Dutch Termination of Life on Request Act, proposed by Health Minister Els Borst and effective 1 April 2002, transformed a long-standing medical convention into law, after earlier court cases such as the 1973 Postma ruling and the 1991 Remmelink Report that recorded about 2,300 voluntary euthanasias in 1990. France’s 2026 assisted-dying legislation draws directly on this Dutch model.

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Story summary

Pope Leo XIV denounced France's assisted-dying law at Lourdes.
He told 5,000 patients, volunteers and bishops that no human law should erase dignity.
The law took effect on Aug. 19 2026 and applies to adults with incurable conditions who give informed consent.
The law requires patients to self-administer the lethal dose, excluding psychological suffering as a qualifying condition.
He urged healthcare workers to prioritize caring for suffering rather than ending lives.

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