ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE – During a press conference aboard the papal plane on Friday, September 13, Pope Francis criticised both U.S. presidential candidates, citing their positions on abortion and migration as anti-life policies.
In remarks made while flying back to Rome from a tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania, the Pope advised American Catholics to consider voting for the “lesser evil” in the upcoming U.S. elections.
“Both are against life, be it the one who kicks out migrants or the one who supports killing babies,” Francis said, without mentioning Republican candidate Donald Trump or Democratic candidate Kamala Harris by name.
He added, “Both are against life.”
The Argentine Jesuit, who has long emphasised the importance of migration as a human right and a central focus of his pontificate, spoke emphatically about the Biblical call to welcome migrants.
“Anyone who does not follow the Biblical call to welcome the stranger is committing a grave sin,” Francis said, a direct rebuke to policies that expel migrants.
On the issue of abortion, Pope Francis was equally blunt, reiterating the Church’s strong opposition to the practice.
“To have an abortion is to kill a human being. You may like the word or not, but it’s killing,” he said.
Urges Voting Based on Conscience
When asked how Catholics should approach the upcoming U.S. election, Francis emphasized the importance of civic responsibility, urging voters to carefully consider their choice.
“One should vote, and choose the lesser evil,” the Pope advised, but added that it is ultimately up to individual conscience.
“Who is the lesser evil, the woman or man? I don’t know.”
Prior Stances on U.S. Elections
This is not the first time Pope Francis has commented on a U.S. election.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, the Pope criticised Trump’s proposal to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, declaring that anyone who builds such a wall “is not Christian.”
Recalling his 2016 visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, the Pope said, “There were so many shoes of the migrants who ended up badly there,” highlighting the plight of those who have perished attempting to cross the border.
Church’s Position on Key Election Issues
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has prioritized abortion as the top issue for American Catholics, calling it the “preeminent priority” in their voter guidance.
Kamala Harris has defended abortion rights, supporting efforts to reinstate federal protections.
Pope Francis, while firm on the Church’s position against abortion, acknowledged the scientific nuances. “Science says that in the first month after conception, all the organs of a human being are already there, all of them,” Pope Francis stated.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, however, notes that organ development occurs throughout the early stages of pregnancy, with major organs forming by the 13th week.
As the 2024 U.S. election draws closer, Pope Francis’ remarks provide a moral framework for Catholics as they weigh the candidates’ stances on critical issues affecting life and human dignity.
