Pope Francis criticized both leading US presidential candidates as being “against life,” recommending that Catholic voters choose the “lesser evil” in the upcoming November election.
The Pope labeled the refusal to accept migrants—a likely reference to Trump—as a “grave” sin and equated Kamala Harris’s position on abortion to “assassination.”
In a rare political statement during a press conference concluding his 12-day tour of Southeast Asia, he remarked, “Both are against life, be it the one who expels migrants, or the one who permits the killing of unborn babies.” He did not mention Harris or Trump explicitly by name.
American Catholics constitute 52 million of the global 1.4 billion Catholic population.
During a mid-flight press conference, Pope Francis, while advising Catholic voters, emphasized that he is not American and would not participate in the vote. However, he urged Americans to participate in voting.
He emphasized the importance of voting, stating, “Not voting is inexcusable and detrimental. You must vote.”
He posed a reflective question about choosing the lesser evil: “Who is the lesser evil? That lady, or that gentleman? I don’t know. Each person must consider this conscientiously.”
The Pope has consistently spoken out against abortion, aligning with Catholic doctrine, stating, “To remove a child from the womb is to assassinate, for there is life.”
This is not his first instance of making critical comments about Trump. In the 2016 elections, he challenged Trump’s Christian stance over his anti-immigrant rhetoric.
He criticized the expulsion of migrants and the denial of their opportunity for life as cruel and shameful in his Friday remarks.
Trump has been vocal about intensifying measures against illegal immigration, even pledging to deport millions if re-elected on that same Friday.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade, Harris has vowed to enhance nationwide protections for abortion rights.
The Pope’s comments were made shortly after the first debate between Trump and Harris, with another debate anticipated before the election, although Trump has declared he will not participate further.
