Pope Francis weighed in on the US presidential election during a flight from Singapore to Rome, stating that both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris hold stances that are “against life.” When asked for guidance on how a Catholic voter should choose between a candidate who supports abortion and one who advocates for deporting migrants, the pope emphasized that both positions are morally problematic.
“Both are against life: one who expels migrants and one who kills children,” he said. “Both are against life. I’m not American, and I won’t vote, but I want to make it clear that denying migrants the opportunity to work and receive hospitality is a grave sin.”
The pope drew on biblical teachings to emphasize the importance of caring for migrants, orphans, and widows. “The Old Testament repeatedly speaks of the stranger, the widow, and the orphan,” he said. “These are the ones Israel must care for. Failing to care for migrants is a sin, a sin against life and humanity.”
Francis also recalled his experience celebrating Mass at the US-Mexico border, where he saw the shoes of migrants who had met a tragic end. He noted that many migrants are treated like slaves and exploited by those who take advantage of their situation.
The pope also addressed the issue of abortion, stating that science confirms the presence of all human organs in a fetus just one month after conception. “Having an abortion is killing a human being,” he said. “Whether you like it or not, it’s murder. The Church is not closed-minded because it forbids abortion; the Church forbids abortion because it kills.”
Francis seemed to draw a moral equivalence between denying entry to a migrant and having an abortion, stating that both are wrong and cruel. “Sending migrants away, not allowing them to grow, not letting them have life is something wrong, it is cruelty,” he said.
When asked if there are circumstances in which it is morally permissible to vote for a candidate who supports abortion, the pope advised voters to choose the “lesser evil.” However, he declined to specify which candidate he considered the lesser evil, instead emphasizing the importance of individual conscience in making voting decisions.
