‘Both are against life’: Pope urges Catholics to pick ‘lesser evil’ between Trump and Harris
“One has to choose the lesser of two evils. Who is the lesser evil? That lady or that gentleman? I don't know. Everyone have to think and make this decision according to their conscience,” Francis said
Pope Francis on Friday (September 13) said that he considered both candidates for the US presidency "against life", citing Donald Trump's anti-immigrant policies and Kamala Harris’ support for abortion rights.
“Both are against life. The one who discards migrants and the one who kills children. Both are against life,” Francis told reporters aboard his plane returning to Rome after a 12-day tour of Asia.
“I am not an American and I will not be voting there. But let it be clear: both sending migrants away and not giving migrants the ability to work or welcoming them is a sin, it is serious,” he was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.
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.
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.”
Former president Trump has promised to round up illegal immigrants and deport them as he seeks to return to the White House in the looming November election.
He also paved the way for a 2022 US Supreme Court overturning of Roe v Wade, the 1973 ruling that made abortion a national right for women -- a right that Harris has pledged to restore.
“One has to choose the lesser of two evils. Who is the lesser evil? That lady or that gentleman? I don't know. Everyone have to think and make this decision according to their conscience,” Francis said.