Pope Francis Urges US Catholics to Choose 'Lesser Evil' in Upcoming Election

Pope Francis has weighed in on the upcoming US presidential election, urging American Catholics to vote for what they consider the "lesser evil" among the candidates. The pontiff's comments came during a press conference on his return flight to the Vatican, following a tour of Asian countries.

The 87-year-old religious leader expressed disapproval of both major candidates' positions on crucial issues. He criticized Kamala Harris's stance on abortion and Donald Trump's immigration policies, stating that both are "against life" in different ways.

Regarding Harris's abortion policy, which aims to reinstate federal protections for pregnancy terminations, the Pope stated:

"To have an abortion is to kill a human being. You may like the word or not, but it's killing"

[[Pope Francis on abortion]]

This stance aligns with the Catholic Church's long-standing opposition to abortion, which dates back to the 1st century. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has consistently opposed legal abortion since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973.

Turning to Trump's immigration policy, Pope Francis described the proposed closure of US borders to foreigners as a "grave sin." Trump has pledged to deport one million migrants if elected on November 5, 2024, and to strengthen southern border security using military forces.

The Pope advised Catholic voters to make a conscientious choice, stating:

"One should vote, and choose the lesser evil. Who is the lesser evil, the woman or man? I don't know. Everyone in their conscience should think and do it."

[[Pope Francis on voting]]

This concept of choosing the "lesser evil" in voting has been debated in Catholic moral theology for centuries.

It's worth noting that this is not the first time Pope Francis has commented on US elections. In 2016, he criticized Trump's proposal to build a wall on the US-Mexico border, calling it "not Christian." The US-Mexico border spans approximately 3,145 kilometers.

According to data from the Pew Research Center, there are about 52 million Catholic adults in the United States, comprising roughly one-fifth of the adult population. The Catholic vote in the US has been closely divided in recent presidential elections.

As the leader of the world's largest Christian denomination, with about 1.3 billion members worldwide, Pope Francis's words carry significant weight. Since becoming the 266th pope in 2013, he has been known for his relatively progressive stance on various social issues compared to his predecessors.

As the election approaches, American Catholics will need to consider the Pope's advice alongside their personal beliefs and the candidates' policies. The US Constitution prohibits any religious test for public office, ensuring that voters can make their choices based on their individual consciences.