No, pope does not support euthanasia for 'alcoholics, autistic and disabled' | Fact check

Nate Trela, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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The claim: Pope Francis says alcoholics, autistic and disabled people should be euthanized to 'fight climate change'

A July 28 article published by The People’s Voice makes a stunning claim about the leader of the Catholic Church.

“Pope Francis Says Alcoholics, Autistic and Disabled People Should Be Euthanized To 'Fight Climate Change,'” reads the article's headline.

The article was shared on Facebook more than 300 times in a week, according to CrowdTangle, a social media analytics tool.

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Our rating: False

The pope has consistently denounced euthanasia and has spoken out against several proposed euthanasia laws in Europe in the past year. The article comes from a site that frequently publishes misinformation.

Pope Francis' past statements show he opposes euthanasia

The article doesn't say where or when Francis made the supposed remarks, and there are no reports of such comments from him in any credible news outlet.

To the contrary, in keeping with Catholic tradition, Francis has repeatedly spoken out against euthanasia – both before and after the article’s publication.

On Aug. 3, while visiting Portugal for World Youth Day, the pontiff criticized the country’s newly enacted euthanasia law.

“Where are you going if, faced with the torment of living, you limit yourself to offering quick and wrong remedies such as easy access to death, a comfortable solution that seems sweet, but in reality, is more bitter than the waters of the sea?” he said.

He spoke out against the law before and after it was enacted in May. He also urged French politicians not to pursue a euthanasia law in October 2022 and labeled limited access to medications for the elderly as “progressive euthanasia.”

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The Vatican has reaffirmed the church’s opposition to euthanasia several times during Francis’s tenure. In 2019, it released a paper exploring the issue and restating its opposition to the concept. In 2023, it issued a joint statement with Jewish leaders repudiating the concept of assisted suicide.

The People’s Voice article says Francis’ position on euthanasia is in line with a purported World Economic Forum effort to euthanize people to prevent climate change. USA TODAY has previously debunked the idea that such a plan exists.

The People's Voice, previously known as NewsPunch, has a lengthy history of publishing fabricated stories, many of which have been debunked by USA TODAY. The WEF is a frequent subject of its baseless claims.

USA TODAY reached out to The People's Voice for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Lead Stories also debunked the claim.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pope Francis has consistently opposed euthanasia | Fact check