Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday said he was “very disappointed” that his home state of Illinois approved a law permitting medically assisted suicide, calling instead for renewed respect for the sanctity of human life.

Speaking to reporters as he left his country residence in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, Pope Leo said he had spoken “explicitly” to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, urging him not to sign the bill into law.

‘Life must be respected from beginning to end’

“We were very clear about the necessity to respect the sacredness of life from the very beginning to the very end,” Pope Leo said. “Unfortunately, for different reasons, he decided to sign that bill. I am very disappointed about that.”

The Pope added that Blase Cupich, the Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago, had also appealed to the Governor to reconsider.

Governor Pritzker signed the legislation on December 12. The law, commonly referred to as “Deb’s Law”, is named after Deb Robertson, an Illinois resident living with a rare terminal illness, who campaigned for the measure and testified about the suffering faced by terminally ill patients and their families.

Catholic teaching on life

Pope Leo, who grew up in Chicago, reiterated Catholic teaching, which upholds the defence of life from conception until natural death and opposes euthanasia.

“I invite all people, especially during these Christmas days, to reflect on the nature of human life and its goodness,” he said. “God became human to show us what it truly means to live a human life. I hope and pray that respect for life grows again at every stage of human existence.”

Dioceses voice concern

All six Catholic dioceses in Illinois had earlier criticised the Governor’s decision, warning that the law places the state “on a dangerous and heartbreaking path”.

According to the advocacy group Death With Dignity, 11 other US states and the District of Columbia currently allow medically assisted suicide. Delaware is the most recent addition, with its law set to take effect on January 1, 2026. Several other states are considering similar legislation.