Pope Francis has weighed in on the upcoming U.S. presidential election, expressing concerns about the candidates’ positions on abortion and migration. While he did not explicitly name either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, his comments during an airborne news conference on Friday were directed at their stances on these critical issues.
On the issue of migration, a topic close to the Pope’s heart, he described it as a fundamental right outlined in Scripture. He declared that anyone who fails to follow the biblical call to welcome the stranger is committing a ‘grave sin.’ This statement underscores the Pope’s commitment to welcoming and protecting migrants, a stance that has been a hallmark of his papacy.
The Pope was equally firm in his condemnation of abortion, stating unequivocally that ‘to have an abortion is to kill a human being.’ His words are likely to resonate with American Catholics who hold strong anti-abortion views. He urged voters to fulfill their civic duty and choose the ‘lesser evil’ in the election.
This call to action comes at a time when President Joe Biden, a practicing Catholic, and his running mate, Kamala Harris, face criticism from some Catholic bishops and conservatives for their strong support of abortion rights. These critics have even called for Biden to be denied communion. However, Pope Francis has previously emphasized that bishops should be pastors, not politicians, suggesting a nuanced approach to this complex issue.
This isn’t the first time Pope Francis has commented on U.S. elections. In the lead-up to the 2016 election, he criticized Trump’s proposed border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, stating that anyone who builds such a wall to keep out migrants ‘is not Christian.’ His words highlight his strong opposition to xenophobia and his belief in the importance of welcoming and embracing people from all backgrounds.
The Pope’s latest comments come at a critical juncture in the election cycle. Initial survey results following the presidential debate between Harris and Trump show a five-point lead for the Vice President. The debate, marking the end of an eight-year no-handshake era, has stirred up the investment landscape, leading to a shift in betting markets towards Harris. This shift has also triggered a downturn in Trump Media & Technology Group shares and a surge in solar stocks. The Pope’s words, urging Catholics to consider the ‘lesser evil,’ are likely to add another layer of complexity to this already heated election.
