Pope Francis waded into the US presidential election debate on Friday, offering a pointed critique of both candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, labeling them as “against life.” During a press conference aboard his plane returning to Rome after a 12-day tour of Asia, the pontiff criticized Trump’s immigration policies and Harris‘s stance on abortion.
“Both are against life.The one who discards migrants and the one who kills children. Both are against life,” Pope Francis told reporters.
The Pope’s criticism of Trump centered on his hardline immigration policies, including his promise to round up and deport illegal immigrants if re-elected. “Both sending migrants away and not giving migrants the ability to work or welcoming them is a sin, it is serious,” he said.
On the other hand, Kamala Harris, who has vowed to restore abortion rights after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, was also singled out by Francis. The pontiff referred to abortion as “killing children,” aligning with his consistent pro-life stance.
“I am not an American and I will not be voting there. But let it be clear: both sending migrants away and not giving migrants the ability to work or welcoming them is a sin,” Francis emphasized.
Facing this moral dilemma, the Pope left voters with a sobering question: “One has to choose the lesser of two evils. Who is the lesser evil? That lady or that gentleman? I don’t know. Everyone has to think and make this decision according to their conscience.”