Each March 21st, the world celebrates World Down Syndrome Day, an occasion to raise awareness and show support for people with this genetic condition. This date, chosen symbolically, refers to the presence of a third chromosome on the 21st pair, which is the origin of the syndrome that Professor Jérôme Lejeune brought to light in 1958.
Dr. Jérôme Lejeune, a devout Catholic and eminent geneticist, was the first to establish the link between this chromosomal anomaly and Down syndrome. His work marked a true scientific revolution in a field still largely unknown in his time. But beyond the discovery, it is above all his unwavering commitment to children affected by Down syndrome that makes him an exemplary figure.
A man of both science and faith, he saw in each patient a human being endowed with inalienable dignity. He dedicated his life to them, seeking not only to improve their condition but also to defend their right to life in the face of an increasingly eugenic society. His love for the most vulnerable led him to denounce prenatal screening when it was used as a tool of selection, leading to the elimination of these children even before their birth.
His cause for beatification, introduced due to his heroic virtues, has progressed rapidly. In 2021, he was declared Venerable, a recognition of his total commitment to the service of truth and life. For Aude Dugast, the postulator of his cause and author of a book about him, Jérôme Lejeune was a true "apostle of the Gospel of Life." He knew how to unite intelligence and love, placing his knowledge at the service of the littlest ones without ever yielding to the pressures of the medical or political world.
The fruits of his labors are visible today. Thanks to medical advances, notably driven by his research, the life expectancy of people with Down syndrome has increased considerably, from about ten years to over sixty years. Despite persistent discrimination, his legacy remains alive through the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation, which continues his fight for the respect and dignity of people with disabilities.