In a press conference on his papal airplane, Pope Francis urged Catholic voters to "choose the lesser evil" between former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. He criticized Harris' support of abortion rights and Trump's plans to deport migrants, saying that "not giving welcome to migrants is a sin."
Pope Francis urged Catholic voters on Friday to "choose the lesser evil" between former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. In a press conference held from his papal airplane following a 12-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania, the pope criticized both candidates for their stances on abortion and immigration.
On abortion, Pope Francis said, "It is an assassination. On these things we must speak clearly. No 'but' or 'however.'" He added that "not giving welcome to migrants is a sin" and that "whether it is the one who is chasing away migrants, or the one who that kills children, both are against life."
Pope Francis Urges Catholic Voters to "Choose the Lesser Evil" Between Trump and Harris
The pope's comments come as the United States is in the midst of a heated presidential election campaign. Trump and Harris have made their positions on immigration and abortion a focus of their debate. Trump has promised the "largest mass deportation in American history of our country," while Harris has said that she wants to codify Roe v. Wade into law.
The pope did not specify which candidate, if either, he personally prefers. However, he did say that "not voting is ugly. It is not good. You must vote."
Pope Francis Urges Catholic Voters to "Choose the Lesser Evil" Between Trump and Harris
There are more than 50 million Catholics in the U.S., including a sizable number of voters in swing states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. The pope's comments could therefore have a significant impact on the outcome of the election.
In the past, Pope Francis has criticized both Trump and Biden for their stances on abortion. In 2016, he said that Trump's plan to build a wall along the Mexican border was "not Christian." In 2022, he called Biden's support for a woman's right to choose an "incoherence."
Pope Francis Urges Catholic Voters to "Choose the Lesser Evil" Between Trump and Harris
However, the pope has also said that he believes it is up to individual Catholics to decide which candidate to vote for. "I am not going to tell you who to vote for," he said in a 2020 interview. "I am simply going to tell you what the Church teaches."
The Catholic Church teaches that abortion is a grave sin and that migrants should be welcomed with compassion. However, the Church also teaches that Catholics should not refuse Holy Communion to politicians who support abortion rights, even if they are Catholic.
Pope Francis Urges Catholic Voters to "Choose the Lesser Evil" Between Trump and Harris
This has led to some confusion among Catholic voters, who are trying to reconcile their religious beliefs with their political views. The pope's comments on Friday are likely to add to this confusion.
Ultimately, it is up to each individual Catholic voter to decide how to vote in the upcoming election. However, the pope's comments are sure to be a factor in their decision-making process.
