In a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Catholic leaders, Pope Leo XIV has publicly expressed deep disappointment after Illinois approved a law permitting medically assisted suicide. The decision, signed into law on Dec. 12, has sparked a strong reaction from the Vatican and the state’s Catholic hierarchy.
Pope Leo XIV’s Statement
Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday he was “very disappointed” that his home state of Illinois had approved a law allowing for medically assisted suicide. He added that he had spoken “explicitly” with Gov. JB Pritzker and urged him to not sign the bill into law. The pope also told reporters that Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich had done the same. “We were very clear about the necessity to respect the sacredness of life from the very beginning to the very end, and unfortunately, for different reasons, he decided to sign that bill,” Leo said. “I am very disappointed about that.”
The pope, who grew up in Chicago, cited Catholic teaching that calls for the defense and protection of life from conception until natural death. He reminded the world that Catholic doctrine forbids abortion and euthanasia. “I would invite all people, especially in these Christmas days, to reflect upon the nature of human life, the goodness of human life,” Leo said. “God became human like us to show us what it means really to live human life, and I hope and pray that the respect for life will once again grow in all moments of human existence, from conception to natural death.”
The Illinois Legislation
The measure that became law is also known as “Deb’s Law,” named after Deb Robertson, a resident of the state who lives with a rare terminal illness. Robertson pushed for the measure’s approval and testified about the suffering of people and their families who want the chance to decide for themselves how and when their lives should end. Gov. Pritzker, a Democrat, said he had been moved by stories of patients suffering from terminal illness. The law allows medically assisted suicide, giving patients the option to end their lives in a controlled and dignified manner.
Catholic Dioceses’ Response
The state’s six Catholic dioceses criticized Pritzker’s signing of the bill. They said the law puts Illinois “on a dangerous and heartbreaking path.” Their condemnation echoes the pope’s own disappointment and underscores the conflict between the new legislation and the Church’s teachings on the sanctity of life.
Broader National Context
According to the advocacy group Death With Dignity, eleven other states and the District of Columbia allow medically assisted suicide. Delaware is the latest to adopt such a provision, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Seven other states are currently considering allowing medically assisted suicide. The Illinois law joins a growing list of jurisdictions that have expanded the options available to patients facing terminal illnesses.
Key Takeaways
- Pope Leo XIV has expressed “very disappointed” about Illinois’ new law permitting medically assisted suicide.
- The law, known as “Deb’s Law,” was signed on Dec. 12 and allows patients to end their lives with medical assistance.
- Illinois’ Catholic dioceses and the Vatican have criticized the legislation, citing Catholic teachings that forbid euthanasia and abortion.
The pope’s remarks, made as he left his country house in Castel Gandolfo, highlight a deep divide over the moral and legal status of assisted suicide. As the nation watches, the Illinois law stands as a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over the rights of terminally ill patients and the role of religious doctrine in public policy.
