Pope Francis Addresses Abortion and Migration in US Election Context

Pope Francis criticised both US presidential candidates on Friday, highlighting their stances on abortion and migration as anti-life. He urged American Catholics to vote for the "lesser evil" in the upcoming elections. "Both are against life, be it the one who kicks out migrants or the one who supports killing babies," he said. "Both are against life."

The Pope was speaking during a press conference on his flight back to Rome from a tour of Asia. He clarified that he is not an American and would not be voting. Although he did not name Donald Trump or Kamala Harris directly, his comments were clear on their positions regarding abortion and migration.

Migration and Abortion Concerns

Francis has consistently prioritised the issue of migration throughout his pontificate, frequently addressing it. He stated that migration is a right described in Scripture, and not welcoming strangers is a "grave sin." On abortion, he was equally blunt, stating, "To have an abortion is to kill a human being. You may like the word or not, but it's killing."

When asked about voting, Francis emphasised the civic duty to vote and choose the lesser evil. "Who is the lesser evil, the woman or man? I don't know. Everyone in their conscience should think and do it," he said.

Previous Election Comments

This isn't the first time Francis has commented on a US election. During the 2016 election, he criticised Trump's plan to build a wall at the US-Mexican border, stating that anyone who builds such a wall "is not Christian." On Friday, he recalled celebrating Mass at the US-Mexico border and seeing many shoes left by migrants who had suffered there.

Trump has promised massive deportations similar to his first White House bid. However, there remains a significant gap between his ambitions and the legal, fiscal, and political realities of such actions.

US Bishops' Stance

The US bishops conference has labelled abortion as the "preeminent priority" for American Catholics in its voter guidance. Kamala Harris has strongly defended abortion rights and supports reinstating federal abortion rights.

Francis reiterated that science indicates all organs of a human being are present within the first month after conception. "Performing an abortion is killing a human being," he said. However, medical experts note that organ development begins in early pregnancy but completes later.

In other remarks, Francis denied reports that he would attend the December inauguration of the restored Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris but expressed interest in visiting the Canary Islands to highlight migrant issues.

He also downplayed speculation about returning to Argentina this year, stating that while he wants to go, nothing has been decided yet. Francis hasn't been home since before becoming pope in 2013.

Additionally, Francis described China as "a promise and a hope" for the Catholic Church and expressed his desire to visit someday. He also condemned sexual abuse as "demonic" and commented on recent revelations involving French priest Abbe Pierre.

The Pope's comments reflect his ongoing commitment to addressing critical issues like migration and abortion while urging voters to consider these factors when making their decisions at the polls.