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Life & Family Journey to France

Pope Leo XIV speaks in Lourdes

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV spoke to 5,000 sick people in Lourdes on Sunday, 27 September 2026, stating that what is legal is not necessarily moral. Addressing the crowd, the pope rejected the temptation to end life under the guise of false compassion and said it is impossible to view taking a life as something normal.

The remarks followed the legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia in France. He told those facing terminal illness or intense pain that human laws should not cause them to lose certainty in their dignity. He also called on healthcare workers to be fervent servants of life.

During his address, the pope told the sick they are not a burden but are the beating heart of humanity and a treasure for the Church. He met with staff and volunteers at the Notre Dame Welcome Center, a facility built to assist disabled and sick pilgrims near the sanctuary spring.

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  2. Oct 31, 12:16 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  3. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  4. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  5. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  6. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
  7. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova University and University of Notre Dame
  8. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  9. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  10. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  11. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  12. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  13. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  14. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Italian municipalities' representatives
  15. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  16. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  17. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV warns against AI use in life-or-death decisions
  18. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  19. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  21. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  22. Oct 31, 7:34 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold candlelight procession for peace at St Mary Major on October 31
  23. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  24. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  25. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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Earlier version, Monday 28 September

Pope Leo XIV in Lourdes rejects euthanasia

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Sep 27, 7:56 AM CathoBel Français Discours de Léon XIV à Lourdes (texte intégral): « Ce qui est légal n’est pas nécessairement moral »
  2. Sep 27, 8:11 AM Vatican News Slovenščina Papež v Lurdu: Vzeti življenje ni normalno. Kar je zakonito, ni nujno, da je moralno.
  3. Sep 27, 12:37 PM Aleteia Pope Leo in Lourdes makes clear rebuke of euthanasia
  4. Sep 27, 9:58 AM Rome Reports Pope Takes Firm Stand Against Euthanasia in Lourdes: “What Is Legal Is Not Necessarily Moral”
  5. Sep 27, 1:33 PM Famille Chrétienne Français À Lourdes, Léon XIV au feu de la vérité
  6. Sep 28, 1:46 AM Religión en Libertad Español «Lo legal no es necesariamente moral»: la frase que resonó en Lourdes delante de 5.000 enfermos

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 12:46 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  2. Oct 31, 12:16 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  3. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  4. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  5. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  6. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
  7. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova University and University of Notre Dame
  8. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  9. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  10. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  11. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  12. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  13. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  14. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Italian municipalities' representatives
  15. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  16. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  17. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV warns against AI use in life-or-death decisions
  18. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  19. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  21. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  22. Oct 31, 7:34 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold candlelight procession for peace at St Mary Major on October 31
  23. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  24. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  25. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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