Pope Francis has made a rare political comment, urging US Catholics to make a difficult choice between US Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
While the Pope did not mention either candidate by name, he clearly criticized their stances on key issues, calling both ‘‘against life’’ and advising voters to choose the ‘‘lesser evil’’ in the upcoming election. The remarks came during an in-flight news conference as the Pope concluded a 12-day trip through Southeast Asia.
Pope Francis condemned both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on life-related issues. He strongly criticized Trump’s harsh immigration policies, labeling the act of turning away migrants as a “grave sin.”
In his words, “Expelling migrants, not letting them develop, not letting them have a life is an ugly thing, it’s mean.” This reflects the Pope’s longstanding criticism of restrictive immigration policies, which he sees as a failure to uphold the dignity of human life.
Pope Francis also equated Harris’s stance on abortion to an “assassination,” stating, “Forcing a child from the mother’s womb is an assassination because there is life there.”
Harris, who has advocated for expanded access to abortion following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, finds herself at odds with the Catholic Church’s teachings on this issue.
The Pope made it clear that both stances – expelling migrants and allowing abortions – are fundamentally “against life.”
Catholics Face a Moral Dilemma
With the US Presidential elections fast approaching, Pope Francis acknowledged the moral complexity facing American Catholics, who number over 69 million.
While conservative on social issues like abortion, many Catholics also align with the Pope’s view that welcoming migrants is a moral duty. Francis urged US Catholics not to abstain from voting, stating, “Not voting is ugly. It is not good. You must vote.”
However, the Pope did not offer a direct endorsement of either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, instead encouraging voters to reflect deeply on their decision.
“You must choose the lesser evil,” he advised, adding, “Who is the lesser evil? That lady or that gentleman? I don’t know. Everyone, in conscience, has to think and do this.”
The dilemma for Catholic voters is particularly challenging given that neither candidate fully aligns with the Church’s teachings on life issues. On one hand, Trump’s hardline immigration policies clash with the Pope’s message of compassion for migrants, while Harris’s pro-abortion stance contradicts the Church’s views on the sanctity of life.
Political Impact on Catholic Voters
The Pope’s comments are significant as Catholic voters play a crucial role in US elections, particularly in swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Polls show that US Catholics are politically divided, with about 52% leaning toward the Republican Party and 44% toward the Democrats. However, Pope Francis’ remarks may influence how Catholics navigate the moral dilemmas posed by the 2024 election.
This isn’t the first time Pope Francis has spoken out about political candidates. During the 2016 election, he criticized Donald Trump for his anti-immigrant rhetoric, saying that anyone who builds walls instead of bridges is “not Christian.”
His recent remarks reflect a continuation of his concern over the rise of restrictive immigration policies in wealthy nations, particularly the US.
Final Notes
As the US Presidential elections draw near, it is clear that Catholic voters will have a difficult choice to make. With Pope Francis urging them to choose the “lesser evil,” they are left to weigh the moral implications of each candidate's policies on immigration, abortion, and the broader issue of life.
Whether this guidance will sway voters remains to be seen, but the Pope’s message has certainly added a new layer of complexity to the already heated election race.