Rumors, hoaxes and conspiracy theories are not new phenomena, but with increasing digitalization and the growth of social media platforms, they can spread at an unprecedented speed and reach. One case that recently caused a stir was the claim that Pope Francis advocated the euthanasia of people with disabilities and alcoholics to combat climate change.
Pope Francis, climate change and euthanasia: misinformation circulating
The rumors arose primarily from posts on the social media platform “Pope Francis has thrown his weight behind the World Economics Forum's campaign to euthanize people with autism, alcoholism and other minor illnesses and disabilities to help humanity fight so- called “climate change ”)
These posts linked to an article from The People's Voice, a website known for spreading conspiracy theories and misinformation. There is also a video circulating on the Internet that supposedly contains statements from the Pope on this topic. The video features well-known conspiracy theorist Sean Adl-Tabatabai, founder of NewsPunch, another website known for spreading misinformation. However, contrary to this claim, Pope Francis never made such a statement.
What did the Pope actually say?
The article on the website "The People's Voice" does not cite any credible sources or specific details as to when and where the pope is said to have made such statements. The article attempts to establish a connection between Pope Francis and the World Economic Forum (WEF), which is a frequent target of conspiracy theorists.
In fact, Pope Francis recently spoke about climate change during the Angelus prayers in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on July 23, 2023 In a full transcription of his prayers and the following message released by the Vatican, there is no reference to euthanasia as a means to combat climate change.
The Pope, climate change and euthanasia: Pope Francis said:
“We are experiencing extreme weather events here and in many countries: On the one hand, there are unusual heat waves and devastating fires in various regions; On the other hand, storms and floods like those that have hit South Korea in recent days are occurring in quite a few places: I am close to those who are suffering and to everyone who helps the victims and those who have lost their homes. And please, I reiterate my appeal to the heads of state and government to do something more concrete to limit pollutant emissions: this is an urgent challenge that cannot be postponed, it concerns us all. Let’s protect our common home!”
Pope Francis takes a clear position on the issue of euthanasia. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published in a letter , “Samaritanus bonus for the care of people in critical and terminal phases of life,” the view that euthanasia is a “crime against human life.” The letter was expressly approved by the Pope.
| Claims | Fact check |
|---|---|
| Pope Francis supports euthanasia of people with disabilities and alcohol-related illnesses to combat climate change. | Incorrect |
| There are credible sources that prove that the Pope made these statements. | Incorrect |
| The website "The People's Voice" reports on Pope Francis' comments on euthanasia. | Incorrect |
| A video shows the Pope making these controversial statements. | Incorrect |
| Pope Francis has spoken out on the issue of climate change several times in the past and called for measures to limit emissions. | True |
| The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has described euthanasia as a “crime against human life.” | True |
| The connection between Pope Francis and the World Economic Forum regarding euthanasia is unproven. | Incorrect |
| Pope Francis spoke about euthanasia in a meeting with the World Union of Catholic Women. | True |
| There are no credible news reports linking Pope Francis to calls for euthanasia. | True |
| The issue of climate change is close to Pope Francis' heart, but he has never proposed euthanasia as a solution to it. | True |
Conclusion: The reports about Pope Francis allegedly supporting euthanasia for disabled and alcoholic people appeared only on websites known for spreading conspiracy theories, while the Pope has called for the fight against climate change on several occasions. While the Pope has repeatedly called for action to combat climate change, he firmly rejects the practice of euthanasia. Therefore, we can clearly call this claim false.
In the age of digital information overload, it is important to be vigilant and try to distinguish facts from misinformation. It is also important to remember that the spread of misinformation can cause real harm, which is why each individual should carefully consider what they share or pass on.
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

