An Atheist at the Vatican: Mortality, Religion, and Wellness
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel on end-of-life ethics, secular bioethics, and why “remember you will die” may be the most urgent health policy message of our age.
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel has advised presidents, shaped national health reform, and influenced decades of bioethical debate. Recently, he was invited to the Vatican.
In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss:
Why reflecting on mortality should shape lifestyle
His position on euthanasia and end-of-life care
The sustainability crisis facing aging societies
Whether religious practice improves health
What surprised him most about Rome
More than a policy discussion, this is an exploration of how secular expertise and religious tradition can converge in unexpected ways — especially around mortality, meaning, and the limits of medicine.