In a poignant reiteration of his 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis has condemned euthanasia, describing it as “a failure of love” and a reflection of a pervasive ‘throwaway culture.’
This culture, he argues, devalues individuals, failing to recognize them as paramount beings deserving of care and respect.
The False Compassion of Assisted Suicide
Pope Francis emphasized a conviction he has often shared: assisted suicide and euthanasia represent a form of “false compassion.”
He clarified that true compassion, derived from the Latin compati, meaning “to suffer with,” does not involve ending a person’s life intentionally.
Instead, it requires a readiness to share in the burdens and sufferings of those who are approaching the final stages of their earthly journey.
The True Meaning of Compassion
According to the Pope, genuine compassion is embodied in palliative care. Palliative care addresses suffering in all its forms—physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual—while affirming the inherent and inviolable dignity of every individual, particularly those who are dying.
This form of care supports patients in accepting the inevitable passage from this life to eternal life, ensuring their dignity is upheld until the end.
The Church’s Support for Palliative Care
The Catholic Church has long advocated for palliative care, teaching that it is a morally permissible and compassionate response to end-of-life suffering.
In contrast, the Church firmly opposes assisted suicide and euthanasia, both of which involve the intentional ending of a life.
The Church maintains that it is acceptable to withhold extraordinary means of medical treatment, allowing death to occur naturally.
Legalization of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
In recent decades, assisted suicide and euthanasia have been legalized in several countries, including Canada, Australia, Spain, Belgium, and various U.S. states.
These laws permit patients to end their own lives or allow doctors to euthanize them.
In some jurisdictions, patients can request assisted suicide even if they are not suffering from a terminal illness, further raising ethical concerns.
Conclusion: Upholding Human Dignity
Pope Francis’s statements serve as a reminder of the fundamental principles of compassion and dignity that should guide end-of-life care.
By advocating for palliative care and opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide, the Church calls for a reaffirmation of the value of every human life.
In doing so, it challenges society to move away from a culture of disposability and towards one of genuine care and respect for the suffering and dying.
