Pope Francis recently criticized Donald Trump and Kamala Harris for their immigration and abortion policies, describing both as “anti-life” during a conversation with reporters. He urged voters to choose “the lesser of two evils” in the upcoming election but refrained from expressing a preference between the candidates. The pope has consistently condemned abortion, calling it “murder,” and has criticized anti-immigration policies as “evil.” He previously spoke out against Trump’s border wall in 2016, asserting that building walls to exclude migrants is not a Christian act. Despite declining support, Pope Francis remains popular with 75% of U.S. Catholics, with stronger backing among Democrats than Republicans.
Special Summary & Ideas –
- Pope Francis’ Criticism:
- Pope Francis criticized both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris for their immigration and abortion policies, labeling them as “anti-life.”
- He highlighted that one candidate is responsible for “kicking out migrants” and the other supports “killing babies.”
- Call to Voters:
- The pope urged voters to choose the “lesser of two evils” ahead of the upcoming election, though he did not express a preference between Trump and Harris.
- Public Perception of Pope Francis:
- 75% of U.S. Catholics view Pope Francis favorably, though this marks an 8% drop since 2021.
- Among Democratic Catholics, 90% have a favorable view of him, compared to 63% of Republican Catholics.
- Previous Statements on Politics:
- In 2016, Pope Francis criticized Trump’s plan to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, stating that those who build walls to shut out migrants “are not Christian.”
- He also warned against fear as a political tool, condemning it as benefiting “merchants of arms and death.”
- Views on Abortion and Immigration:
- Pope Francis has consistently condemned abortion, calling it “murder.”
- He also denounced anti-immigration policies, saying abandoning migrants is “evil.”
- No Direct Reference to Candidates:
- Though the pope discussed immigration and abortion policies, neither Trump nor Harris was mentioned by name.
