Pope Francis Urges U.S. Catholics to “Choose the Lesser Evil” in Election
Pope Francis has called on Catholic voters in the United States to “choose the lesser evil” between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election.
The pontiff made the remarks during a press conference aboard his papal airplane following a 12-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania. While addressing the moral dilemmas facing voters, the Pope criticized Harris’ stance on abortion, calling it “an assassination,” and also rebuked Trump for his immigration policies, stating, “Not welcoming migrants is a sin.”
“You must choose the lesser evil,” Pope Francis said. “Who is the lesser evil? That lady or that gentleman? I don’t know. Everyone, in conscience, must think and decide.”
The Pope emphasized the importance of voting, stating that abstaining from the election is “ugly and not good.” He refrained from endorsing either candidate.
The comments come as Harris advocates for codifying Roe v. Wade into law, while Trump has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history if re-elected.
On both abortion and immigration, Pope Francis said: “It is an assassination. On these matters, we must be clear—no ‘but’ or ‘however.’ Not welcoming migrants is a grave sin.”
The pontiff has previously clashed with Trump, notably in 2016 when he criticized Trump’s plan to build a wall along the Mexican border as “not Christian.” He has also expressed disapproval of President Joe Biden’s pro-abortion stance.
With over 50 million Catholics in the U.S., including a significant portion of voters in swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the Pope’s remarks could have a major influence on the election.
