On his return trip from Kazakhstan, the Pope was asked about the moral situation of the West. The questioner specifically mentioned euthanasia as an example in questioning the moral status of Western culture.
The Pope responded jokingly:
It is true that the West, in general, is not at the highest level of exemplarity right now. It is not a child at their First Communion, at all.
He went on to speak of various issues — political and social — stressing at length the problematic response to refugees, both in Europe and in other places.
The questioner returned to the specific issue of euthanasia, and to this the Pope had a brief but emphatic response:
Killing is not human, period. If you kill with motivation, eventually you will kill more and more. Let’s leave killing to the beasts.
Frequent denunciation
In fact, Pope Francis speaks out against euthanasia with regularity.
Life is a right, not death – which must be welcomed, not administered. (See here)
If the person [in palliative care] feels loved, respected, and accepted, the dark shadow of euthanasia disappears or becomes nearly non-existent … (See here)
The practice of euthanasia, which has already become legal in several states, only seemingly aims to encourage personal freedom; in reality it is based on a utilitarian view of the person, who becomes useless or can be equated to a cost … (See here)
In 2020, the Vatican also released a new statement on euthanasia:
Citing Gaudium et spes, the document reiterates that “abortion, euthanasia and wilful self-destruction poison human society” and “are a supreme dishonor to the Creator” (no. 27).
And today we celebrate...