Pope Francis on Saturday told a group
of French lawmakers visiting the Vatican that those in the
terminal stages of life need to be supported and accompanied
till a natural end.
Debate should focus on "accompanying life to its natural end
through a wider development of palliative care", said the
pontiff.
"People at the end of their lives need to be supported by
assistants who are faithful to their vocation, which is to
provide aid and relief, even though they cannot provide
treatment", commented the pontiff.
Earlier this year, the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life
drafted a lexicon on end-of-life care.
In the new booklet, called 'Small lexicon on end of life', the
Pontifical Academy for Life reiterated its opposition to
euthanasia and therapeutic obstinacy while indicating that there
is "space to search for a mediation in legislation" in Italy on
end-of-life care and assisted suicide, while "artificial
nutrition and hydration", as medical treatments, should be
evaluated "case by case".
Overall, the document reiterated a stark rejection of
euthanasia, as well as of therapeutic obstinacy.
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