Pope Francis on Friday criticized former US President Donald Trump for his plan to deport millions of immigrants and Vice President Kamala Harris for her stance supporting abortion rights.
Asked about the US presidential election on his flight back to Rome from Singapore, the Pope said not welcoming immigrants was a “grave” sin and compared abortion to “murder.”
He said American Catholics will have to “choose the lesser evil” when they vote in November, without elaborating.
Francis spoke at a news conference with reporters after a demanding 12-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania. While the pope did not mention Trump and Harris by name, he specifically referred to their policies and their genders. Despite criticizing both candidates, he said Catholics should vote.
“Not voting is ugly,” said the 87-year-old pontiff. “It is not good. You have to vote.”
“You have to choose the lesser evil,” he said. “Who is the lesser evil? That lady or that gentleman? I don't know. Everyone, in conscience, has to think and do this.”
American Catholics, who number about 52 million nationwide, are often considered swing voters. In some battleground states, such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, more than 20 percent of adults are Catholic.
Francis, leader of some 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, is typically cautious about intervening in national political elections but is often a harsh critic of abortion, which is banned under Catholic teachings. He has also previously criticized Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric. During the 2016 election, he said Trump was “not Christian” in his views.
On Friday, Francis said the policies of both candidates are “contrary to life.”
“Both those who drive away migrants and those who kill children are against life,” the Pope said.
Trump has promised to crack down on illegal immigration and deport millions of immigrants already in the United States if he is elected to a second term as president. He has also refused to rule out building detention camps for undocumented immigrants.
Harris has vowed to sign any legislation passed by Congress to restore national protections for abortion access that were struck down by the Supreme Court in its 2022 Dobbs decision.
The two candidates faced off Wednesday in their first debate together on both issues. Most polls show a close race, with Harris slightly leading.
The pope called immigration “a right,” citing biblical passages that call for orphans, widows and foreigners, three types of people that society must care for. “Not welcoming immigrants is a sin,” the pope said. “It is grave.”
Francis said that abortion “is killing a human being.” He said there can be no excuses for abortion. “It is murder,” he said. “We must speak clearly about these things. Without 'buts' or 'however.'”
Balancing political priorities has become a topic of discussion among U.S. bishops, who have issued similar electoral guidance in every presidential cycle since 2007-2008, with some updates.
Its latest version, published with a new introduction in November 2023, states that the “threat of abortion” is a “preeminent priority” for Catholics.
