Pope Francis Condemns Anti-Life Policies on Immigration and Abortion
The pope Francis criticized both Trump’s immigration stance and Harris’s support for abortion, calling their policies “anti-life” and urging Catholics to consider these issues when voting.
During a press conference on his return flight from Singapore, Pope Francis expressed criticism of both former US President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and Vice President Kamala Harris’s stance on abortion rights. The pontiff, without naming them directly, referred to their positions as he discussed the upcoming US presidential election.
The pope emphasized that rejecting migrants is a serious sin, while comparing abortion to murder. He advised American Catholics to “select the lesser evil” when voting in November, though he did not specify which candidate he considered less problematic.
Francis made these comments after a lengthy tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania. He stressed the importance of voting, calling abstention “unattractive” and “improper.” The pope acknowledged the difficulty in choosing between candidates, referring to them as “that lady” and “that gentleman.”
Catholics Urged to Vote with Moral Conscience in 2024 Election
Francis advised American Catholics to carefully weigh their options, stressing the importance of voting and describing abstention as improper in the upcoming electio
With approximately 52 million Catholic voters in the US, often viewed as key swing voters, the pope’s words could carry significant weight. Francis, who leads the global Catholic community of about 1.4 billion, typically avoids direct involvement in national elections. However, he has previously criticized Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and regularly speaks out against abortion, which is forbidden by Catholic doctrine.
The pope described both candidates’ policies as “anti-life,” criticizing one for “expelling migrants” and the other for “terminating children.” Trump has pledged to deport millions of immigrants if re-elected, while Harris has promised to support legislation protecting abortion access.
Francis emphasized that welcoming immigrants is a right, citing biblical teachings. He also firmly stated that abortion is “ending a human life” and described it as “murder,” leaving no room for exceptions.
The US Catholic bishops have addressed the challenge of balancing political priorities in their election guidance, which they update each presidential cycle. Their most recent version, released in November 2023, identifies the “threat of abortion” as a “primary concern” for Catholic voters.
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