Pope Francis Criticizes Harris And Trump, Urges To Choose ‘Lesser Evil’ (image-Instagram/ franciscus)
By criticizing both candidates, Pope Francis has encouraged Catholics in the US to vote in the November elections, saying they should “choose the lesser evil”.
He had said that both Vice President Kamala Harris and former US President Donald Trump were “both against life” for their takes on apportion during a press conference abroad plane while he was returning from an extensive trip across Asia.
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In his remarks on Friday, Pope while flying from Rome to Singapore, noted a more dilemma that American voters might face when choosing between Harris and Trump in the November election.
When the reporters asked about how Catholics should navigate the choice between a candidate who supports abortion rights and another who advocates deporting millions of migrants, Pope Francis said, “They are both against life- the one who throws away migrants and the one who kills children”.
He further offered pointed criticism of their platforms, saying that refusing to welcome immigrants is a “grave” sin and abortion is akin to an “assassination”.
When asked whether it would be morally permissible for a Catholic voter to support a candidate who backs abortion rights, the pope responded, “One must vote,” even in cases where the available options are morally difficult.
Pope also acknowledged the challenge of choosing between candidates with differing but significant flaws, saying, “One must choose the lesser of two evils. Who is the lesser of two evils? that lady or that gentleman? I do not know,” but American Catholics “with a conscience should think on this and do it.”
Pope argued that immigration is a fundamental right dating back to biblical times.
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He reiterated the Catholic Church’s firm stance on abortion, calling it “murder,” while explaining, “Whether you like the word or not, it is a killing. It is an assassination, and on this, we should be clear.
The 87-year-old pontiff made the comment as the US presidential election is entering its final weeks, with voting scheduled for November 5.
The US is home to 52 million Catholics, a conservative-leaning constituency that is well-represented in several key swing states, such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
