‘Choose the lesser evil’ in US election, says Pope as Catholic leader criticises Kamala Harris and Donald Trump
The Pope has told American Catholics to “choose the lesser evil” as he criticised both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
Pope Francis launched the surprise intervention in the US election on his flight from Singapore to Rome on Friday.
He was critical of vice president Harris over her stance supporting abortion rights, claiming the procedure is an “assassination”, and said that Mr Trump’s plan to deport millions of immigrants was a “grave” sin.
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Then, he called on American Catholics to “choose the lesser evil” when they headed to the polls in November.
He did not elaborate further.
Pope Francis made the comments after he visited Singapore. Pic: AP
The Pope was speaking after a 12-day tour across Southeast Asia and Oceania.
In his remarks, he did not name Ms Harris or Mr Trump, and instead referred specifically to their policies and their genders – but he did say Catholics should vote.
The 87-year-old said: “Not voting is ugly. It is not good. You must vote.
“You must choose the lesser evil. Who is the lesser evil? That lady, or that gentleman? I don’t know.”
He added: “Whether it is the one who is chasing away migrants or the one who that kills children. Both are against life.”
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Ms Harris has vowed to sign any legislation passed by Congress that would restore national protections for abortion access, which were struck down by the Supreme Court two years ago.
Meanwhile, Trump has said he will crack down on illegal immigration and deport millions of immigrants already in the US.
He has also not ruled out building detention camps for undocumented immigrants.
American Catholics number roughly 52 million across the US and are an important voter group.
In some battleground states, including Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, as many as one in five adults are Catholic.
The Pope is usually careful about weighing in on political elections but has been frequently critical of abortion – which Catholicism sharply forbids.
But he has also previously criticised Mr Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric – during the 2016 election he said Mr Trump was “not Christian”.
Children are among the fatalities in a mass shooting at a child’s birthday party in California.
Police said four people had died and 10 were wounded in the incident in Stockton, about 60 miles east of San Francisco.
Officers were called on Saturday to a banquet hall just before 6pm local time (2am UK time) and district attorney Ron Freitas said children were among the dead.
He said the attacker was still at large.
First responders walk through a parking lot near the scene of a mass shooting in Stockton, California. Pics: AP
“We can confirm at this time that approximately 14 individuals were struck by gunfire, and four victims have been confirmed deceased,” San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said on X.
The post said early indications suggest it could be a “targeted incident” but that information remains limited.
Police have so far not disclosed the attacker’s identity and the motive is unclear.
Stockton’s vice mayor Jason Lee confirmed on Facebook that the shooting on Lucile Avenue happened at a child’s birthday party.
Pics: AP
Mayor Christina Fugazzi also said that “families should be together instead of at the hospital, standing next to their loved one, praying that they survive”.
California governor Gavin Newsom’s office added that he had been briefed on the “horrific shooting”.
Venezuela has accused Donald Trump of a “colonial threat” after he said the airspace “above and surrounding” the country should be considered closed “in its entirety”.
Mr Trump made the declaration amid growing tensions with President Maduro – and as the US continues attacking boats it claims are carrying drugs from Venezuela.
He wrote on Truth Social: “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
Air traffic above Venezuela on Saturday afternoon. Pic: FlightRadar24
Venezuela’s foreign affairs office called it a “colonial threat” and “illegal, and unjustified aggression”.
It accused the president of threatening “the sovereignty of the national airspace… and the full sovereignty of the Venezuelan state”.
President Trump’s words were part of a “permanent policy of aggression against our country” that breached international law and the UN Charter, it added.
The Pentagon and the White House have so far not given any additional detail on the president’s statement.
Mr Trump’s post comes after the American aviation regulator last week warned of a “potentially hazardous situation” over Venezuela due to a “worsening security situation”.
Nicolas Maduro is widely considered a dictator by the West. Pic: Reuters
The South American nation revoked operating rights for six major airlines that went on to suspend flights to the country.
Mr Trump warned a few days ago that land operations against suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers would begin “very soon”.
Such a move would be a major escalation in Operation Southern Spear – the US naval deployment in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific that’s so far attacked at least 21 vessels.
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Three killed as US strikes another alleged drug boat
Venezuela has said the attacks, which have killed more than 80 people, amount to murder.
The US has released videos of boats being targeted, but hasn’t provided evidence – such as photos of their cargo – to support the smuggling claims.
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The Pentagon has sought to justify the strikes by labelling the drug gangs as “foreign terrorist organisations” – putting them on par with the likes of al Qaeda.
It claims the boats targeted are carrying drugs bound for the US, although Sky’s chief correspondent says the final destination is likely to be Europe and West Africa.
President Maduro has denied Mr Trump’s claims he is involved in the drugs trade himself and said his counterpart wants to oust him so he can install a more sympathetic government.
Venezuelan officials have also claimed Mr Trump’s true motivation is access to the country’s plentiful oil reserves.
Mr Maduro is widely considered a dictator who’s cheated elections and has been president since 2013.
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