Pope Francis recommended American Catholics vote for the candidate they believe to be the “lesser evil” in the forthcoming US elections, and he criticized both US presidential candidates on Friday for what he called anti-life policies on immigration and abortion.
“Both are against life, be it the one who kicks out migrants, or be it the one who kills babies,” Francis said.
As the Argentine Jesuit was returning to Rome following a four-nation tour of Asia, he was requested to advise American Catholic voters during an aerial news conference. Francis emphasized that he would not be voting because he was not an American.
Pope Francis Condemns Abortion, Defends Migrants
Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, and Kamala Harris, the Democratic contender, were not specifically named. However, when asked to comment on their stances on two contentious subjects in the US election—abortion and immigration—which are also very important to the Catholic Church, Francis nevertheless used strong language.
Throughout his pontificate, Francis has prioritized the situation of migrants and has spoken out against it often and with great emphasis. Francis has not placed as much focus on church doctrine as his predecessors, although vehemently supporting church teaching that forbids abortion.
Francis asserted that welcoming strangers is a biblical mandate and that it is a “grave sin” for anybody to disobey this command. Migration is a right, according to Scripture. He was also blunt in speaking about abortion. “To have an abortion is to kill a human being. You may like the word or not, but it’s killing,” he said. “We have to see this clearly.”
When asked what the public’s role is when they go to the polls, Francis reminded them to vote. “One should vote, and choose the lesser evil,” he said. “Who is the lesser evil, the woman or man? I don’t know. “Everyone in their conscience should think and do it,” he said.
Bishops Should Be Pastors, Not Politicians
The Associated Press contacted the Harris and Trump campaigns for comment, but they did not reply right away.
Given that US President Joe Biden is an observant Catholic and supports abortion rights strongly, some Catholic bishops and other conservatives have called for Biden to be denied Communion.
Following his in-person encounter with Francis in October 2021 at the Vatican, Biden reported that the pope informed him that, as a “good Catholic,” he should keep taking Communion.
When previously questioned about American bishops who wish to refuse Biden Communion because of his support for abortion rights, Francis emphasized that bishops belong as pastors, not as politicians.
Pope Francis Revisits Trump’s Border Wall Proposal
Francis has commented on US elections before, as seen by his Friday press conference. Francis was questioned over President Trump’s proposal to erect a wall along the US-Mexico border in the lead-up to the 2016 election. Francis said at the time that a person who constructs a wall to keep immigrants out “is not Christian.”
Francis responded on Friday, recalling that “there were so many shoes of the migrants who ended up badly there” when he delivered Mass at the border between the United States and Mexico.
Just like he did in his first presidential attempt, when there was a significant gap between his goals and the political, economic, and legal constraints of carrying out such an endeavor, Trump now promises mass deportations.
In their published voter guidance, the US Bishops Conference, for example, states that abortion is the “preeminent priority” for American Catholics. Harris has emphasized her support for the reinstatement of the federal right to an abortion and has vigorously championed abortion rights.
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