He’s being vague.
Pope Francis recently advised Catholic voters to choose between former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris by selecting the lesser of two evils. During a press conference aboard his plane following a tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania, the pope voiced his concerns about both candidates. He criticized Harris’s support for abortion rights, which he described as “assassination,” and condemned Trump’s position on immigration, calling the refusal to welcome migrants a grave sin.
While the pope refrained from endorsing either candidate, he emphasized the importance of voting according to one’s personal conscience and rejected abstention as an option. Harris has pledged to enshrine Roe v. Wade into law if elected, while Trump has vowed to pursue extensive deportations.
This guidance from Pope Francis aligns with his history of outspoken commentary on political matters. In 2016, he publicly disagreed with Trump’s proposal to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, which he deemed “un-Christian.” Trump retorted by suggesting that the pope was influenced by the Mexican government and questioning his Christian principles.
The pope has also addressed President Biden’s stance on abortion. Despite Biden being Catholic, his support for abortion rights has been at odds with Church teachings, though Pope Francis has left the judgment to Biden’s personal conscience. With many Catholic voters in key swing states, the pope’s comments are likely to influence the upcoming election significantly.
