Pope Leo XIV expressed deep disappointment with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker for signing a new law legalizing assisted suicide. Speaking to reporters outside his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, the pope revealed he had personally urged Pritzker not to approve the measure during a Vatican meeting in November 2025. “I spoke very explicitly with Governor Pritzker about that,” Leo said, emphasizing the need to respect the sacredness of life from conception to natural death. Despite his plea, Pritzker signed the bill on December 12, making Illinois the 12th U.S. state to allow medically assisted suicide.
The pope, a Chicago native, called the decision a setback for the sanctity of human life. He noted that Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich also pressed Pritzker to veto the bill, but their efforts were unsuccessful. “Unfortunately, for different reasons, he decided to sign that bill,” Leo said. “I am very disappointed about that.” The law, dubbed “Deb’s Law” after Deb Robertson, a terminally ill Illinois resident who advocated for it, allows doctors to prescribe life-ending drugs to patients with terminal illnesses. The law takes effect in September 2026.
Pritzker, a Democrat, defended his decision, citing stories of patients enduring unbearable suffering. “I have been deeply impacted by the stories of Illinoisans or their loved ones that have suffered from a devastating terminal illness,” he said. However, Illinois’ six Catholic dioceses condemned the law, warning it sets the state on a “dangerous and heartbreaking path.” They argue it undermines the dignity of vulnerable patients and risks normalizing suicide as a solution to suffering.
Pope Leo’s remarks are unusually direct for a pontiff, who typically avoids commenting on local political issues. His intervention highlights the growing debate over assisted suicide in the U.S., where 11 other states and Washington, D.C., have similar laws. Critics, including pro-life groups, fear the measure could pressure patients into feeling like burdens, especially those with disabilities or economic hardships. The Catholic Church, along with organizations like the Patients Rights’ Action Fund, opposes assisted suicide, calling it incompatible with true compassion and the role of physicians as healers.
The pope urged reflection on the value of human life, especially during the Christmas season. “God became human like us to show us what it means to really live human life,” he said, hopeful that respect for life would grow. As more states consider similar legislation, Leo’s words underscore the moral and ethical tensions surrounding end-of-life choices, ensuring the issue remains a focal point in both religious and political spheres.
