Pope Leo XIV says he’s ‘very disappointed’ after Illinois approves assisted suicide law

Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday helium was "very disappointed" aft his location authorities of Illinois approved a instrumentality allowing medically assisted suicide.

Leo, who grew up successful Chicago, said helium had spoken "explicitly" with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker portion the authorities was connected his table and urged him not to motion the measure into law, saying the measurement undermines respect for quality beingness from "the precise opening to the precise end."

"Unfortunately, for antithetic reasons, helium decided to motion that bill," Leo told reporters extracurricular Rome. "I americium precise disappointed astir that."

The Medical Aid successful Dying Act, besides referred to arsenic "Deb's Law," was signed into instrumentality by Pritzker connected Dec. 12 and allows eligible terminally sick big patients to get life-ending medicine aft consultation with their doctors.

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Pope Leo XIV met with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker during an assemblage astatine the Apostolic Palace connected Nov. 19 successful Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Simone Risoluti - Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

The measurement was named aft Deb Robertson, a lifelong Illinois nonmigratory with a uncommon terminal unwellness who had pushed for the bill's approval.

The instrumentality takes effect successful September 2026, giving participating healthcare providers and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) clip to instrumentality required processes and protections.

Leo said Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich besides urged Pritzker not to motion the bill, but his efforts were unsuccessful.

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Pope Leo XIV said helium was precise disappointed" that Illinois passed a instrumentality allowing medically assisted suicide. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP via Getty Images)

"I would invitation each people, particularly successful these Christmas days, to bespeak upon the quality of quality life, the goodness of quality life," Leo said. "God became quality similar america to amusement america what it means truly to unrecorded quality life, and I anticipation and commune that the respect for beingness volition erstwhile again turn successful each moments of quality existence, from conception to earthy death."

The state’s six Catholic dioceses person besides criticized Pritzker’s determination to motion the bill, saying it puts Illinois "on a unsafe and heartbreaking path."

Illinois joins a increasing database of states allowing medically assisted suicide. Eleven different states and the District of Columbia let medically assisted suicide, according to the advocacy group, Death with Dignity, and 7 different states are considering allowing it.

After signing the bill, Pritzker said the authorities would let patients with terminal illnesses to "avoid unnecessary symptom and suffering astatine the extremity of their lives," and said it would beryllium "thoughtfully implemented" to usher physicians and patients done profoundly idiosyncratic decisions.

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Medical Aid successful Dying Act connected Dec. 12, allowing eligible terminally sick big patients to get life-ending medicine aft consultation with their doctors. (Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Fox News Digital has reached retired to Pritzker's bureau for comment.

Fox News Digital's Alexandra Koch and The Associated Press contributed to this report.