Pope Francis Criticizes Trump and Harris on Immigration and Abortion

Pope Francis has voiced his concerns about former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris regarding their positions on immigration and abortion. He described the upcoming US elections as a choice between the ‘lesser of two evils.’

During a press conference on the papal plane, Francis remarked, ‘One must choose the lesser of two evils. Who is the lesser of two evils? That lady or that gentleman? I don’t know.’ He urged voters to reflect deeply on their decision.

Francis has been more outspoken on political matters compared to his predecessors, aiming to make the Catholic Church more inclusive. He has consistently upheld the Church’s stance against abortion, viewing it as the intentional ending of human life. He also emphasized that immigration should be considered alongside other life-related issues.

‘To send migrants away, to leave them wherever you want, to leave them … it’s something terrible, there is evil there. To send away a child from the womb of the mother is an assassination, because there is life. We must speak about these things clearly,’ he said.

Previously, Francis has presented progressive stances on various political issues, such as permitting priests to forgive abortions, supporting blessings for same-sex couples, and highlighting climate change concerns. He has also contested the view held by some Catholic bishops in the US who prioritize abortion as the foremost issue, arguing that migrant welfare is equally significant for the protection of life.

In 2016, Francis criticized Trump’s proposal to build a border wall, labeling it ‘not Christian.’ In 2021, when US bishops debated whether to deny communion to public figures supporting abortion rights, including President Joe Biden, Francis advocated for a ‘pastoral’ rather than a political approach to such decisions. He has maintained that he has never refused communion to anyone.

Francis has also expressed disapproval of couples opting for pets over children, echoing sentiments shared by Trump’s running mate, Sen JD Vance. Vance, a converted Catholic, has disparaged childless women as ‘childless cat ladies’ and criticized the ‘leadership class’ without children as ‘more sociopathic.’

Opinions vary widely among Christian Catholics. Pew Research shows that 52 percent of registered Catholic voters identify with or lean towards the Republican Party, while 44 percent lean Democrat. In the 2020 election, Catholic voters were nearly evenly split, with 50 percent supporting Biden and 49 percent backing Trump. Nevertheless, a majority, 61 percent, of Catholics believe abortion should be legal in most or all circumstances.