--- title: "Pope Leo criticises France's assisted dying law" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/pope-leo-criticises-frances-assisted-dying-law" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/pope-leo-criticises-frances-assisted-dying-law" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/pope-leo-criticises-frances-assisted-dying-law.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/pope-leo-criticises-frances-assisted-dying-law" category: "Politics" area: "European Union" published: "2026-09-27T02:45:55.748Z" source_reported: "2026-09-26T21:33:31.000Z" updated: "2026-09-27T02:45:55.748Z" trust_score: 68 critic_score: 87 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-27T04:45:10.299440+00:00" --- # Pope Leo criticises France's assisted dying law *Pontiff warns against profit-driven science promoting surrogacy, organ trade and euthanasia.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 68 of 100, higher is better. Trust 68: multiple independent outlets, named Pope and Macron, specific date/location, but no direct documents or figures. - Craft 87 of 100, higher is better. Critic 87: explains context, quotes Pope, separates facts, gives specific names/dates, clear narrative. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: language is measured; no sensationalism beyond factual reporting. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Pope Leo spoke in France on September 25, 2026, criticising the country's new assisted-dying law. - He addressed French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace. - The Pope warned that science and technology could be used for profit to promote surrogacy, organ trade, genetic manipulation, and assisted death. - France's assisted-dying law, passed two months prior, allows individuals with incurable illnesses to request lethal medication. Pope Leo delivered a speech in France on September 25, 2026, opposing the country’s newly enacted assisted-dying law. The legislation, passed two months earlier, permits individuals with incurable illnesses to request lethal medication under strict conditions. The Pope addressed French President Emmanuel Macron and other politicians at the Élysée Palace. He stated that the protection of the right to life is the foundation of all other human rights. The Pope expressed concern about societal trends that could turn science and technology into profit-driven ventures, potentially promoting genetic manipulation, surrogacy, the trade in human organs, or the possibility of arranging one's own death. ## Disagreement on specific mention of the law The Star Kuala Lumpur reported that the first US pope did not specifically mention France's new law, though he criticised assisted dying alongside other issues. IndexHR stated that the first American pope did not explicitly mention the new French law. The Gateway Pundit digest noted that the Pope's speech was to the French establishment. Anews.com.tr and CNBC-TV18 digests also stated the Pope did not specifically mention France's new law. The Print digest stated Pope Leo firmly set out the Catholic Church's opposition to assisted dying initiatives in a speech in France on Friday. The Straits Times digest similarly reported Pope Leo firmly set out the Catholic Church's opposition to assisted dying initiatives in a speech in France on Friday. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated reports mention that surrogacy is banned in France but that the French top court ruled that children born abroad via surrogacy must be recognised as the intended parents’ children. None of the right-rated reports mention that surrogacy is banned in France but that the French top court ruled that children born abroad via surrogacy must be recognised as the intended parents’ children. ## Who covered it Shares of the 13 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 8% (1) - Centre: 7% (1) - Right: 85% (11) 8 of 21 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-27T04:45:10.299440+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 10 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-27T05:15:07.722Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The single left-rated report, from IndexHR, led on the Pope's concerns about societal trends including surrogacy and euthanasia. It quoted the Pope saying, "Sometimes I am concerned about trends in society that risk turning science and technology into profit-driven ventures promoting genetic manipulation, surrogacy, the trade in human organs or the possibility of arranging one's own death." The report also mentioned the Pope's call to reconsider artificial intelligence development. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - Ten right-rated reports focused on Pope Leo's opposition to France's assisted-dying laws. The Star Kuala Lumpur's full report stated the Pope "firmly set out the Catholic Church's opposition to assisted dying initiatives in a speech in France on Friday". It quoted him saying, "I firmly reiterate that the protection of the right to life constitutes the indispensable foundation of every other human right." The Star also noted that the Pope criticised assisted dying alongside surrogacy and genetic manipulation, which he suggested could be promoted for profit. The Daily Caller digest noted the Pope took on assisted death, secularism, and education. news-pravda.com and The Gateway Pundit digests highlighted the Pope condemning assisted dying laws to Macron's face. anews.com.tr, regionalmedianews.com, CNBC-TV18, The Print, and The Straits Times digests all reported the Pope voicing alarm on assisted dying laws in France. la Nacion digest mentioned the Pope questioning French secularism and alerting to "scheduled death". **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 2 - mixed: 3 - high: 6 - unknown: 8 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Daily Caller](https://dailycaller.com/2026/09/26/pope-leo-takes-on-assisted-dying-defends-catholic-schools-in-blunt-message-to-french-establishment) — Pope Leo Takes On Assisted Death, Secularism, Education In Blunt Message To French Establishment - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/09/26/2623233.html) — During Historic Visit to France, Pope Leo XIV Condemns Their Assisted Dying Laws to Macron’s Face - [The Gateway Pundit](https://thegatewaypundit.com/2026/09/during-historic-visit-france-pope-leo-xiv-condemns) — During Historic Visit to France, Pope Leo XIV Condemns Their Assisted Dying Laws to Macron’s Face * The Gateway Pundit * by Paul Serran - [Il Riformista](https://ilriformista.it/papa-leone-alleliseo-latomica-non-e-garanzia-di-sicurezza-nel-mirino-maternita-surrogata-commercio-degli-organi-emorte-programmata-532097) — Pope Leo at the Elysée: "Atomic Is Not a Guarantee of safety." In the Sight of Surrogate Motherhood, Trade in Organs and Planned Death" - [Sassuolo 2000](https://sassuolo2000.it/2026/09/25/papa-a-parigi-attivisti-peta-anti-corrida-invadono-percorso-papamobile) — Pope in Paris, Anti-Corrida PETA Activists Invade Path Papamobile - [la Nacion](https://lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/leon-xiv-cuestiono-el-laicismo-frances-alerto-sobre-la-muerte-programada-y-dejo-una-alusion-velada-a-nid25092026) — Leon XIV Questioned French Secularism, Alerted to the “Scheduled Death” and Left a Veiled Allusion to Trump - [Quotidiano Nazionale](https://quotidiano.net/video/papa-a-parigi-attivisti-peta-anti-corrida-invadono-percorso-papamobile-jgt48yor) — Pope in Paris, Anti-Corrida PETA Activists Invade Path Papamobile - [italpress.com](https://italpress.com/papa-a-parigi-attivisti-peta-anti-corrida-invadono-percorso-papamobile) — Pope in Paris, Activists PETA Anti-Corrida Invade Path Papamobile Press Agency Italpress - [The Star Kuala Lumpur](https://thestar.com.my/news/world/2026/09/25/pope-leo-voices-alarm-on-assisted-dying-laws-in-france) — Pope Leo voices alarm on assisted dying laws in France - [Mediafax](https://mediafax.ro/externe/papa-leon-al-xiv-lea-la-paris-avertisment-asupra-mortii-programate-si-a-maternitatii-surogat-un-milion-de-oameni-asteptati-in-capitala-frantei-23814267) — Pope Leon XIV in Paris: Warning on "Scheduled Death and Surrogate Motherhood. A Million People, Waiting in the Capital of France - [Correio da Manhã](https://cmjornal.pt/cmtv/videos/detalhe/ativistas-pelos-direitos-dos-animais-tentam-travar-passagem-do-papa-em-paris) — Activists for Animal Rights Try to Stop the Pope's Passage in Paris - [anews.com.tr](https://anews.com.tr/economy/2026/09/25/pope-leo-voices-alarm-on-assisted-dying-laws-in-france) — Pope Leo voices alarm on assisted dying laws in France - [Avaz.ba](https://avaz.ba/vijesti/globus/1075263/papa-lav-u-francuskoj-upozorio-na-drustvene-trendove-ponekad-me-zabrinjavaju) — Pope Leo Warns of Social Trends in France: "Sometimes They Worry Me" - [regionalmedianews.com](https://regionalmedianews.com/news/national/health/pope-leo-voices-alarm-on-assisted-dying-laws-in-france-2) — Pope Leo voices alarm on assisted dying laws in France - Regional Media News - [CNBC-TV18](https://cnbctv18.com/world/pope-leo-voices-alarm-on-assisted-dying-laws-in-france-19998915.htm) — Pope Leo voices alarm on assisted dying laws in France - [Unknown](https://eurointegration.com.ua/news/2026/09/25/7246300) — Pope Criticises France's Law on Assisted Suicide - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/pope-leo-voices-alarm-assisted-dying-laws-france-2026-09-25) — Pope Leo voices alarm on assisted dying laws in France - [The Print](https://theprint.in/world/pope-leo-voices-alarm-on-assisted-dying-laws-in-france/3053605) — Pope Leo voices alarm on assisted dying laws in France - [IndexHR](https://index.hr/vijesti/clanak/papa-zabrinjavaju-me-trendovi-u-drustvu-poput-surogat-majcinstva-eutanazije/2838719.aspx) — Pope: I Am Concerned About Trends in Society Such as Surrogacy, euthanasia... - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/world/europe/pope-leo-voices-alarm-on-assisted-dying-laws-in-france) — Pope Leo voices alarm on assisted dying laws in France - [The Telegraph](https://telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/25/macron-rolls-out-red-carpet-pope-in-23m-security-operation) — Pope criticises France's assisted dying laws in front of Macron ## Questions **What did Pope Leo say about assisted dying in France?** Pope Leo spoke out against France's newly enacted assisted-dying law on September 25, 2026. He warned that profit-driven science could promote issues like surrogacy, organ trade, genetic manipulation, and assisted death, while reiterating the importance of the right to life. **When was France's assisted-dying law passed?** France's assisted-dying legislation was passed two months prior to Pope Leo's speech on September 25, 2026. The law allows individuals with incurable illnesses to request lethal medication under specific conditions. **Did Pope Leo mention President Macron by name?** Yes, Pope Leo addressed French President Emmanuel Macron directly during his speech at the Élysée Palace on September 25, 2026. The Pope's remarks were made in the presence of Macron and other politicians. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/pope-leo-criticises-frances-assisted-dying-law. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Pope Leo criticises France's assisted dying law", https://mediabias.news/politics/pope-leo-criticises-frances-assisted-dying-law