Pope Francis Urges Voters To Choose ‘The Lesser Evil’ In 2024 Election

September 13, 2024

Pope Francis weighed in on the 2024 U.S. presidential election on Friday, offering his perspective on the importance of voters making thoughtful decisions. The pontiff urged voters to choose “the lesser evil” when faced with challenging options.

He has previously criticized former President Donald Trump for his anti-migrant policies. Additionally, the pope has expressed contempt for Vice President Kamala Harris’ wholehearted support for abortion rights, labeling both Trump’s and Harris’ views as being “against life.”

“One must choose the lesser of two evils. Who is the lesser of two evils? That lady or that gentleman? I don’t know,” Francis said while talking to reporters aboard the papal plane. “Everyone with a conscience should think on this and do it.”

Though it’s shifting rightward, the Catholic vote has historically been divided, with a significant portion of the faithful leaning towards conservative policies, especially on issues like abortion, while others align with more progressive stances on economic justice, immigration and social welfare.

However, the issue of abortion is highly important to devout Catholics, as the Catholic Church strongly opposes it. For many practicing Catholics, especially those who attend Mass regularly and are more engaged with their faith, abortion is a defining issue when it comes to political decisions.

So, what do you think? Will the Pope’s less-than-enthusiastic views about Harris affect the outcome in swing states with sizable Catholic populations, such as Pennsylvania?