With a view to the presidential election in the USA in November, Pope Francis has recommended voting for the “lesser evil”. On the flight home from Singapore to Rome, the head of the Catholic Church both candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris because of their positions on dealing with immigrants and abortion, he accused them of being anti-life. Nevertheless, he advised US citizens to go and vote. “You have to vote, and you have to choose the lesser evil.”
“I am not an American and I will not vote there,” the Pope stressed. The Pontiff continued: “But let me be clear: sending migrants away and not giving them the opportunity to work (…) is a sin.” “Who is the lesser evil? The lady or the gentleman? I don’t know.” Everyone has to think and make the decision for themselves, explained Francis.
Both are against life – the one who throws out migrants and the one who kills children.
Pope Francis above Donald Trump and Kamala Harris
Francis did not commit himself to either the former president, who is running for the Republicans, or the vice president from the Democrats. “Both are against life – both the one who throws out migrants and the one who kills children,” said the Pontiff. Trump has announced that to deport immigrants on a large scale if he returns to the White HouseHarris defends the right to abortion, which Francis calls “murder.” The election is on November 5.
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The Pontiff answered questions from journalists on the plane on his flight home from his longest foreign trip to date. In total, he spent twelve days in Asia and the Pacific region: in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. The 87-year-old Pope, whose health is increasingly failing, evidently coped well with the exertions. The next trip is scheduled for the end of the month: to Luxembourg and Belgium.
During the question and answer session, Francis left it open whether he would travel to Argentina in the foreseeable future. He has not been back to his homeland since being elected Pope in 2013. However, he dismissed speculation that he would come to Paris in December for the ceremonial reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Last year, Francis had to undergo abdominal surgery. According to official reports, he also suffered from bronchitis for a long time. He now mostly sits in a wheelchair at appointments. (dpa, AFP)
