5 months ago
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker meets pinch Pope Leo XIV
Illinois Democratic Gov. Jay Robert "JB" Pritzker met pinch His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, a chap autochthonal of nan Land of Lincoln, astatine nan Vatican this week. (Credit: REUTERS -- No usage Fox Weather/Outkick)
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Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday he was "very disappointed" aft his location authorities of Illinois approved a rule allowing medically assisted suicide.
Leo, who grew up successful Chicago, said he had spoken "explicitly" pinch Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker while nan authorities was connected his table and urged him not to motion nan measure into law, saying nan measurement undermines respect for quality life from "the very opening to nan very end."
"Unfortunately, for different reasons, he decided to motion that bill," Leo told reporters extracurricular Rome. "I americium very disappointed astir that."
The Medical Aid successful Dying Act, besides referred to arsenic "Deb's Law," was signed into rule by Pritzker connected Dec. 12 and allows eligible terminally sick big patients to get life-ending medicine aft consultation pinch their doctors.
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Pope Leo XIV met pinch Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker during an assemblage astatine nan Apostolic Palace connected Nov. 19 successful Vatican City, Vatican. (Simone Risoluti - Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
The measurement was named aft Deb Robertson, a lifelong Illinois resident pinch a uncommon terminal unwellness who had pushed for nan bill's approval.
The rule takes effect successful September 2026, giving participating healthcare providers and nan 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 nan bill, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
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Pope Leo XIV said he was very disappointed" that Illinois passed a rule allowing medically assisted suicide. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images)
"I would induce each people, particularly successful these Christmas days, to bespeak upon nan quality of quality life, nan goodness of quality life," Leo said. "God became quality for illustration america to show america what it intends really to unrecorded quality life, and I dream and believe that nan respect for life will 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 nan bill, saying it puts Illinois "on a vulnerable and heartbreaking path."
Illinois joins a increasing database of states allowing medically assisted suicide. Eleven different states and nan District of Columbia let medically assisted suicide, according to nan defense group, Death pinch Dignity, and 7 different states are considering allowing it.
After signing nan bill, Pritzker said nan authorities would let patients pinch terminal illnesses to "avoid unnecessary symptom and suffering astatine nan extremity of their lives," and said it would beryllium "thoughtfully implemented" to guideline physicians and patients done profoundly individual decisions.
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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed nan Medical Aid successful Dying Act connected Dec. 12, allowing eligible terminally sick big patients to get life-ending medicine aft consultation pinch their doctors. (Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Fox News Digital has reached retired to Pritzker's agency for comment.
Fox News Digital's Alexandra Koch and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
