On Friday, flying back to Rome from a lengthy trip to Asia, Pope Francis criticized both for what he called anti-life policies on abortion and migration. He advised American Catholics to choose who they think is the 鈥渓esser evil鈥� in the upcoming U.S. elections.
鈥淏oth are against life, be it the one who kicks out migrants, or be it the one who kills babies,鈥� Francis said. Neither Republican candidate Donald Trump nor the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, was mentioned by name.
It was the latest in a long string of memorable 鈥� and sometimes controversial 鈥� comments from the pope, who throughout his 11-year papacy has often been willing to speak out in impromptu fashion.
Several of the most noteworthy comments related to LGBTQ+ issues 鈥� a matter of keen public interest given official Catholic teaching that condemns same-sex marriage and sexual relations. Some examples:
鈥� July 30, 2013. During his first press conference, says when asked about a purportedly gay priest, signaling a more welcoming approach to LGBTQ+ Catholics.
鈥� May 21, 2018: Tells a gay man
鈥� Jan. 24, 2023: Declares in an Associated Press interview that 鈥�
鈥� Jan. 28, 2023: which implied that while homosexual activity was not a crime it is a sin in the eyes of the church. 鈥淲hen I said it is a sin, I was simply referring to Catholic moral teaching, which says that every sexual act outside of marriage is a sin.鈥�
鈥� Aug. 24, 2023: During World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, the pope led a crowd of a half-million young people chanting (everyone, everyone, everyone) to emphasize that all are welcome in the Catholic Church.
鈥� May 20, 2024: Francis reportedly says 鈥� in seminaries, in closed-door comments to Italian bishops in reaffirming the church鈥檚 ban on gay priests. He later apologized for causing offense.
Among other notable quotes:
鈥� Jan. 19, 2015: Francis, while firmly upholding church teaching banning contraception, said Catholics don鈥檛 have to breed 鈥渓ike rabbits鈥� and should instead practice 鈥渞esponsible parenting.鈥�
鈥� February 2015: The pope referred to the possible 鈥淢exicanization鈥� of his native Argentina from drug trafficking. It created a stir, prompting the Vatican to send a diplomatic note to Mexico鈥檚 ambassador insisting that Francis 鈥渁bsolutely did not intend to offend the Mexican people鈥� with the remark.
鈥� Feb. 18, 2016: Flying back to Rome from a pilgrimage that included Mass at the Mexican side of the border with the U.S., Pope Francis, answering a reporter鈥檚 question, said a person who advocates is 鈥渘ot Christian.鈥� A spokesperson later insisted the pope was not singling out .
鈥� May 25, 2019: Addressing a Vatican-sponsored conference, the pope said abortion can never be condoned, even when the fetus is gravely sick or likely to die. 鈥淚s it licit to throw away a life to resolve a problem?鈥� he asked. 鈥淚s it licit to hire a hitman to resolve a problem?鈥�
鈥� July 26, 2022: The pope issued a for the Catholic Church鈥檚 cooperation with sa国际传媒鈥檚 鈥渃atastrophic鈥� policy of Indigenous residential schools. 鈥淚 humbly beg forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous peoples," he said.
鈥� May 12, 2023: Blasting couples who have pets instead of children, Francis called for resources to be dedicated to helping couples grow their families, saying it was necessary to 鈥減lant the future鈥� with hope.
鈥� February 2024: The pope said in an interview that Ukraine, facing a possible defeat, should have the courage to negotiate an end to the . 鈥淚 think that the strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates,鈥� he said.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis picked up the 鈥渨hite flag鈥� term that had been used by the interviewer. He issued a statement of clarification after the pope鈥檚 鈥渨hite flag鈥� comments sparked criticism that he was siding with Russia in the conflict.
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