"Very Disappointed" with Illinois End-of-Life Law
Pope Leo XIV has called for a "Christmas truce" around the world ahead of Christmas.
According to the British daily The Guardian and other sources, on December 23 (local time), the Pope met with reporters in Castel Gandolfo near Rome and said, "Once again, I appeal to all people of goodwill to respect this day of peace." Referring to the overall conflict situations, he added, "I hope they will listen. I hope the whole world will experience 24 hours of peace."
Regarding the war in Ukraine, he said, "One of the things that saddens me deeply is that it appears Russia has rejected the call for a truce." Russia has continued the war for nearly four years since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and has refused international calls for a ceasefire, arguing that a truce would provide a military advantage to Ukraine.
The Pope also criticized Illinois Governor JB Pritzker for signing a bill on December 12 that allows terminally ill patients to end their lives with medical assistance, saying he was "very disappointed." The law, which applies to terminally ill patients expected to have six months or less to live, will take effect in September 2026. It is considered unusual for the Pope, who typically refrains from commenting on political issues, to directly criticize a specific state law in the United States.
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