Pope Francis says medically-assisted dying is ‘false compassion’

Pope Francis warned against medically assisted dying as "false compassion" during a visit to Lourdes, the French Catholic shrine renowned for miraculous cures. This comes as the Catholic Church continues to oppose abortion, euthanasia, and medical assistance in dying. The Pope's visit, which occurred during his third day in France, saw him encourage those in "terrible pain" to recognize their inherent dignity, emphasizing that no law or algorithm can "eliminate" this dignity.

Lourdes, a pilgrimage site for the sick and disabled, has long been a place of healing and reflection on the sanctity of life. Pope Francis arrived from Paris and immediately engaged in prayer in the Grotto of Apparitions, drinking from the spring water renowned for reported visions of the Virgin Mary. He addressed a crowd of over 150,000 people, many in wheelchairs, at Lourdes, where he delivered a message of hope and respect for life, firmly supporting the Catholic teaching that human life must be protected and defended from conception until natural death.

The Pope's stance on these issues has been widely echoed in France, where the legalization of medically assisted death has been a contentious issue, sparking debates and political turmoil. Lourdes, with its history of miraculous cures, particularly resonates with the church's teachings on life's sanctity. The Pope's visit to Lourdes also highlighted ongoing issues within the church, including the abuse crisis, with the Pope meeting with survivors of clergy sexual abuse later in the day.