Pope Francis: Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Are “Both Against Life”

Rome — On Friday, Pope Francis expressed his thoughts regarding the choices facing voters in the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election. During a press conversation on the papal plane returning from an extensive trip to Asia, the Pope stated that he believes both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have stances that contradict the sanctity of life.

In response to a question from CBS News about how a Catholic voter should navigate a choice between a candidate supporting abortion rights and one who has advocated for the deportation of millions of migrants, the Pope remarked, “They are both against life — the one who throws away migrants and the one who kills children.”

This commentary came after the presidential debate where issues of immigration and abortion were prominently featured. While en route back to Rome from a demanding 12-day journey spanning 20,000 miles across Asia and the Pacific, the Pope was discussing these crucial topics with the media.

When asked whether there are any scenarios under which it might be morally acceptable for a Catholic to support a candidate in favor of abortion rights, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of making a choice in the realm of political morality. “One must vote,” he stated. “One must choose the lesser of two evils.” However, he admitted he could not definitively state who that lesser evil might be, referring to the two candidates.

The Pope urged American Catholics to reflect carefully on their consciences before casting their votes, highlighting the moral implications of their choices. He remarked, “It should be clear that sending migrants away, denying migrants the capacity to work, to not welcome migrants, it is a sin. It is grave.”

Pope Francis asserted that immigration rights have deep biblical roots, referencing the Old Testament, which emphasizes the responsibility to care for the vulnerable, including “the orphan, the widow, and the stranger — that is, the migrant.”

In addition to his comments on migration, the Pope reiterated the Catholic Church’s stance on abortion, describing it as an act of murder. “Whether you like the word or not, it is a killing,” he declared. “It is an assassination, and on this we should be clear.”

In reflecting on the complex ethical landscape of the upcoming election, the Pope’s remarks highlight the significant moral dilemmas faced by voters. The intertwining issues of immigration and abortion continue to spark debate within the political arena, as voters prepare to make decisions that resonate deeply with their values and beliefs.