JB Pritzker Shares Newfound Love For Pope Leo After Blatantly Defying Him On Assisted Suicide Bill

Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker inserted himself into Pope Leo XIV’s clash with President Donald Trump on Monday, praising the Catholic leader as defender of human life just months after defying him on that very issue.

Despite an appeal from the pope, Pritzker signed a bill passed in December 2025 allowing for “medical assistance in dying,” even though the pontiff privately informed the Illinois governor of his objections to the measure. Pritzker, who has been mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for President, hailed the Pope in a post on X, saying he “lifts his voice” for “human life.”

“The Pope lifts his voice as part of a higher calling – one centered on peace and the preservation of human life,” the Illinois governor wrote, using a photo from the very meeting in which the Pope made the appeal on life that Pritzker ignored to give the appearance of solidarity.

After Pritzker signed the bill, the Pope expressed disappointment that the concerns he’d raised with the democrat about “the sacredness of life” were disregarded, CBS News reported.

“I spoke very explicitly with Governor Pritzker about that. At that time, the bill was already on his desk — I’m sure, also, with Cardinal Cupich — but we were very clear about the necessity to respect the sacredness of life from the very beginning to the very end and unfortunately, for different reasons, he decided to sign that bill,” Pope Leo said in December, according to CBS Chicago, “I’m very disappointed about that.”