Pope Francis on Friday said that he views both candidates in the upcoming US Presidential Election as being “against life.” He cited former President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant policies and Vice President Kamala Harris’s support for abortion rights as the basis of his criticism.
“Both are against life. The one who discards migrants and the one who kills children. Both are against life,” Pope Francis remarked while speaking to reporters on his flight back to Rome after a 12-day tour of Asia.
While Pope Francis emphasized that he is not an American and, therefore, will not be voting in the election, he was clear in his disapproval of policies on immigration and abortion. “Both sending migrants away and not giving migrants the ability to work or welcoming them is a sin, it is serious,” he added, reinforcing the Catholic Church’s stance on the dignity of human life and the rights of migrants.
Pope’s Remarks on Trump and Harris
Former President Donald Trump, seeking a return to the White House in the upcoming election, has vowed to intensify efforts to round up and deport illegal immigrants. This stance aligns with his previous administration’s policies that included strict immigration controls.
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On the other hand, Kamala Harris has promised to restore abortion rights in the United States, following the 2022 Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The original 1973 ruling had established abortion as a national right for women, a right that was reversed, opening up the debate on abortion policies in the US.
A Moral Dilemma for Voters
Pope Francis acknowledged the complexity of the upcoming election, implying that voters are faced with a difficult choice. “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,” he advised.
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Pope Francis’s comments reflect his broader commitment to protecting life in all its forms, whether through upholding the dignity of migrants or opposing abortion. The Pope’s words are likely to add a new layer of ethical consideration for American voters as they head to the polls.
