Pope Francis Weighs in on US Election, Criticizing Both Trump and Harris
Pope Francis has made a major statement ahead of the upcoming US presidential election, describing the choice voters face as one between “the lesser of two evils,” CNN reports.
During a press conference on the papal plane, Francis specifically addressed former President Donald Trump’s anti-migrant policies and Vice President Kamala Harris’ support of abortion rights, calling both stances “against life.”
“One must choose the lesser of two evils. Who is the lesser of two evils? That lady or that gentleman? I don’t know,” Francis said, referring to Harris and Trump. “Everyone with a conscience should think on this and do it.”
Francis has been more outspoken on political issues than his predecessors, advocating for a more open Catholic Church. While he consistently defends the Church’s stance against abortion, he stresses that it cannot be separated from other issues concerning human life, such as immigration.
He described sending migrants away as “terrible” and “evil,” comparing it to the act of abortion, which he calls an “assassination” due to the destruction of a human life.
He has challenged US Catholic bishops who prioritize abortion as the “pre-eminent” issue, arguing that the plight of migrants also involves the defense of life. In 2016, he denouced then-presidential candidate Trump’s plan to build a wall to prevent migrant crossings as “not Christian.”
Francis’ comments on the US election have sparked discussion, particularly within the Catholic community. =
According to Pew Research, Catholic registered voters are split, with 52% identifying as Republicans or leaning Republican and 44% as Democrats or leaning Democrat. While a majority of Catholics (61%) believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, they were split in 2020, with 50% voting for Biden and 49% for Trump.
