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BREAKING: Pope Francis says ‘I don’t know’ if Trump or Harris is ‘lesser evil’ – LifeSite

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(LifeSiteNews) — Pope Francis has weighed in on the U.S. presidential race by claiming that he doesn’t know whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris is the worse candidate because opposing migration and supporting abortion are both “anti-life.” 

“Sending migrants away, not giving migrants [the] ability to work, not giving migrants [a] welcome is a sin, it’s serious,” Francis said during a nearly 45-minute press conference aboard the papal plane on his way back from a 12-day visit to Indonesia and other Asiatic countries today after being asked about the matter by a CBS reporter. 

The trip has been marred by controversy as Francis not only failed to give the sign of the cross for a blessing that he said was “valid for all religions,” but he also told young people in Singapore that “every religion is a way to arrive at God,” which is a heretical statement that contradicts Christ’s words in the Gospel of John: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me.” 

Francis’ comments about immigration are a swipe at Donald Trump, who has repeatedly drawn attention to crimes perpetrated by persons in the U.S. illegally and has vowed to deport up to 20 million of them if he is re-elected to ensure the safety of American citizens.  

At the same time, Francis said, “sending a baby away from its mother’s breast is murder, because there is life.” The Church “does not allow abortion because it is killing,” he added, a likely reference to Harris’ outspoken support for the barbaric practice. 

In her debate against Trump this week, Harris did not say whether she is in favor of any restrictions on abortion during any month of pregnancy, a fact noticed by Trump, who pressed her and the biased moderators to ask her to clarify whether she would support abortion in the seventh, eight, or ninth month. 

Francis concluded that, “both the one who throws out migrants and the one who kills babies. Both are against life.” He further expressed uncertainty over whether voters should support Trump or Harris. 

“In political morality, it is generally said that not voting is bad, not good: one must vote. And one has to choose the lesser evil. Who is the lesser evil, that lady or that gentleman? I don’t know, everyone in conscience thinks and does this.” 

Francis also spoke about relations with China, the need for peace in Gaza, his wish that the death penalty be eliminated, and that he would not be visiting Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris for its reopening in December. 

Is Donald Trump or Kamala Harris the ‘lesser’ of two evils? 

Francis’ attempt to equate abortion, which is the direct killing of innocent life, and thus one of the four sins that cries to heaven for vengeance, with immigration laws, which are a prudential political matter that must be adjusted based on a country’s ability to ensure its common good is not torn asunder by foreigners, is likely to engender discussion between Catholics and non-Catholics across the political spectrum in the days and weeks ahead. 

Last week, Fr. Chad Ripperger released a prayer consecrating the upcoming election in the United States to the Blessed Virgin Mary. During an appearance on Virgin Most Powerful Radio, he recalled that “when you’re voting for a lesser evil, you’re not voting for the person’s evil or the evil that the thing is doing. What you’re voting to is to preserve the good that would be lost if the other opponent got in, who’s more evil.” The apparent implication was that Harris is far worse than Trump. 

Star NFL kicker, Harrison Butker, a traditional Catholic, quoted Ripperger in an X post where he indicated that he plans on voting for Trump because he is, in fact, the lesser of two evils. 

“I implore my fellow Catholic JD Vance to help bring the Republican Party back in line with the foundational platform that all life is valuable and there can be no compromise when it comes to defending the unborn,” Butker said.  

Catholic historian Roberto de Mattei likewise stated in a recent essay that “the lesser of two evils” in this particular election is clearly Donald Trump. 

“It is a pity that the Republican Party has failed to produce any candidate better than Donald Trump, but Kamala Harris certainly represents the greatest evil to be avoided. Trump deserves to be criticized on many points, but it is not fair to gift victory to Harris by voting for her or abstaining from voting,” he wrote. 

A recent survey of 1,000 Catholics conducted by EWTN News/RealClear Opinion Research reveals that Trump is in danger of losing the Catholic vote. The poll found that Catholic voters prefer Harris to Trump 50 percent to 43 percent with 6 percent undecided, with even wider margins among women, ethnic minorities, and those between the ages of 30 and 49. But a Pew Research Poll released Monday found that 52 percent of Catholics were backing Trump compared to 47 percent favoring Harris.  

Far more than Trump, Harris has been especially hostile towards Catholics during her political career. In 2019, Harris viciously attacked Trump’s judicial nominee Brian Buescher because he was a members of the Knights of Columbus, which opposes homosexual “marriage” and adheres to pro-life principles. Harris, who was criticized for her religious bigotry at the time, called the Knights’ positions “extreme.” 

As Attorney General of California, Harris directed law enforcement to raid the home of pro-life activist David Daleiden in 2016 after he exposed Planned Parenthood for attempting to sell aborted baby body parts. Similar targeting of pro-lifers has occurred while Harris has been vice president. Mark Houck, a father of seven, had his house raised by federal agents in 2022 for engaging in pro-life activism. 

The Biden-Harris administration was also exposed for weaponizing the intelligence agencies against Catholics when, in 2023, a bombshell eight-page memo was released by a former FBI agent turned whistleblower that showed the FBI was spying on Catholics who attend the Latin Mass. 

Harris was also blamed by former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard for the latter being placed on the Quiet Skies program, a TSA initiative that monitors potential domestic terrorists. Gabbard said she was placed on the list after criticizing Harris in July for being incompetent on foreign policy. 

As mentioned during LifeSite’s post-debate analysis, Harris favors extreme pro-LGBT policies like so-called sex-reassignment surgeries. Harris has also received an “F” from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and has voted against advancing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act in 2019, which calls for medical assistance for babies who survive abortion attempts. She also voted against advancing the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in 2020.  

Trump himself has come under criticism from religious Americans in recent weeks thanks to his announcement that he wants to force insurance companies to pay for immoral in-vitro fertilization treatments. Trump also said on Truth Social last month that his administration “will be great for women and their reproductive rights.” 

Lile Rose of Live Action hinted in an interview with Politico that pro-lifers may have difficulty voting for Trump given his policies. LifeSite reporter Doug Mainwairing has similarly argued that Trump’s moderation on not only abortion but also support for homosexual “marriage” and embrace of pro-LGBT groups like the Log Cabin Republican indicates he has betrayed his most loyal supporters, social conservatives. 

Just days after Trump’s IVF comments, his campaign announced the re-launching of Catholics for Trump, an initiative that played an influential role in courting Catholic voters during the 2020 election.  

Callista Gingrich, Trump’s one-time Ambassador to the Holy See, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, Daily Wire host Michael Knowles, Matt and Mercedes Schlapp, who are running the group, and CatholicVote founder Brian Burch added their names to the coalition’s website.  

CatholicVote Vice President Josh Mercer told LifeSiteNews via text message last week that the coalition’s launch shows that “the Trump campaign is definitely listening to concerned Catholics” whereas “Kamala Harris absolutely refuses to listen to the concerns of Catholics. In fact, Kamala Harris has a history of targeting pro-life activists. Just ask David Daleiden and Mark Houck.”  

Soon after the coalition was re-established, Trump sent a letter to the Arizona-based Catholics for Catholics organization thanking them for their faith-based advocacy. John Yep, the group’s founder, previously hosted a “Catholic Prayer for Trump” dinner at Mar-a-Lago. He also started a “Masses for Trump” initiative in June that encourages laity to ask their priests to say a Mass for him.  

Ripperger’s election prayer asks the Blessed Virgin Mary to assist with “the integrity of the upcoming election and its outcome, so that what is spiritually and morally best for the citizens of our country may be accomplished.” It also begs that our elected officials “govern according to the spiritual and moral principles which will bring our nation into conformity with the teachings of Thy Son.” It can be read in full by clicking here. 

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