Pope Leo XIV has spoken against assisted dying, saying helping people end their lives because of serious illness or suffering should not be treated as a normal practice.

The Pope made the remarks on Sunday during his visit to Lourdes, France, where he met sick people and worshippers living with disabilities.

Addressing the gathering, Leo said no law should make people feel that their dignity is lost because they are ill or disabled.

He urged people to reject the idea of causing death in the name of compassion, insisting that deliberately ending a person’s life should not be regarded as normal.

The Pope also said that the fact that something is permitted by law does not necessarily make it morally right.

His comments came during his visit to France, where Parliament passed a law in June allowing assisted dying for some adults with incurable medical conditions.

The legislation has been strongly opposed by the Catholic Church in France, which has argued against the measure on the grounds of its position on the protection of human life.

Leo’s remarks in Lourdes reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s opposition to assisted dying as France moves forward with its new legal framework.