Pope Leo said he "very explicitly" asked the governor of his home state of Illinois to reject an assisted suicide law that was already on his desk when the two met. But "unfortunately," the law was signed. "I am very disappointed by this," the Pope said.
Leo and Governor JB Pritzker met at the Vatican last November.
The Holy Father was asked about the new law as he left Castel Gandolfo on December 23, after spending his Tuesday rest day there as he normally does.
He said that along with Cardinal Blaise Cupich of Chicago, they had been "very clear about the need to respect the sacredness of life, from beginning to end."
Life is good
The Pope voiced his prayer that the sacredness of life could be respected again.
“I would invite all people, especially in these Christmas feast days, to reflect upon the nature of human life, the goodness of human life.
God became human like us to show us what it means really to live human life. And I hope and pray that the respect for life will once again grow in all moments of human existence, from conception to natural death,” the Pope said.
Find out about the law and watch the Holy Father's answer below:
