Pope Francis Urges American Catholics to Choose the “Lesser Evil” in Presidential Election

On Friday, Pope Francis advised American Catholics to select a presidential candidate who represents the “lesser evil.” Speaking from his plane, he remarked, “One should vote and choose the lesser evil. I don’t know if it’s the woman or the man.”

The Pope also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, calling out their stances on key issues. According to The Associated Press, Francis accused them of being “against life” due to their positions on immigration and abortion.

The presidential debate on Tuesday highlighted these contentious issues. Harris criticized Trump’s abortion policies, pledging to support a bill that would protect Roe v. Wade if passed by Congress. She emphasized the dangers faced by women denied essential care during emergencies.

Immigration was another major topic, with Trump attacking the Biden administration’s border policies and making unfounded claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.

In reaction to the Pope’s comments, the Republican National Committee (RNC) referred The Hill to an early September release featuring a statement from ex-Senator Rick Santorum. Santorum argued that Trump’s record aligns closely with Catholic values, endorsing him as the preferred candidate for Catholics.

The Hill has sought responses from the Trump and Harris campaigns for further comments.