"Pope Francis Urges Catholics to Choose 'Lesser Evil' Between Trump and Harris in U.S. Election"

 

Pope Francis strongly criticized both U.S. presidential candidates on Friday for their "anti-life" positions on abortion and migration. He advised American Catholics to vote according to their conscience, choosing who they believe is the "lesser evil" in the upcoming election.

"Both are against life, whether it's the one who rejects migrants or the one who kills babies," Francis said during a press conference on his flight back to Rome from a tour of Asia. While he did not mention Donald Trump or Kamala Harris by name, he weighed in on key issues of concern to the Church.

Migration has been a central focus of Francis' papacy, and he speaks often about the moral duty to welcome strangers. He reiterated that rejecting migrants is a "grave sin" according to Scripture. On abortion, Francis was equally direct, calling it the killing of a human being. "You may like the word or not, but it’s killing," he said.

When asked about how American Catholics should approach voting, the Pope stressed the importance of the civic duty to vote, stating, “One should vote, and choose the lesser evil. Who is the lesser evil, the woman or the man? I don’t know. Everyone in their conscience should think and do it."

The Trump and Harris campaigns did not respond to requests for comment.

In past instances, Francis has addressed U.S. political issues, particularly when asked about U.S. bishops denying Communion to President Joe Biden over his support for abortion rights. The Pope has said that bishops should act as pastors, not politicians, a stance he has maintained consistently.

Francis also recalled his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, where he celebrated Mass and emphasized the Church's stance against building walls to keep out migrants. In contrast, Trump continues to advocate for large-scale deportations and border security measures, while Harris has been a staunch supporter of abortion rights, pushing to restore federal protections.

In his remarks, the Pope further emphasized the Church's opposition to abortion, saying that by a month from conception, a human being's organs begin to develop. He firmly described abortion as murder, though medical professionals note that organ development is more gradual in early pregnancy.

Ultimately, Pope Francis' comments called for careful discernment, urging Catholics to vote based on their conscience and moral principles.