Pope Urges Catholics to Vote for Lesser Evil Presidential Candidate

News Today: Catholic voters urged by Pope to choose “lesser evil” in 2024 election

Pope Francis has urged Catholic voters in the US to choose the “lesser evil” in the upcoming Presidential election, stating both major candidates hold views “against life.” The pontiff’s remarks focused on critical issues such as immigration and abortion. Without naming Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, Pope Francis seemed to reference them in his comments, criticizing the expulsion of migrants and comparing abortion to “assassination.”

In his in-flight press conference, Pope Francis addressed American Catholics, a group that comprises 52 million of the global Catholic population. The Pope emphasized the importance of voting, saying, “Not voting is ugly. It is not good. You must vote.” He advised voters to choose based on their conscience, suggesting they assess which candidate represents the “lesser evil.”

This is not the first time Pope Francis has taken a strong stance on these issues. In 2016, he stated that Donald Trump was “not Christian” due to his anti-immigrant policies. Similarly, he strongly condemned abortion, reaffirming Catholic teaching that life begins at conception.

Both Harris and Trump stand in contrast on these issues: Trump has vowed to enforce strict immigration policies, while Harris has promised to expand abortion rights.

As the election approaches, Pope Francis’s remarks add a new layer of moral consideration for American Catholic voters, encouraging them to weigh their decision carefully.