Pope Francis says opposing abortion isn't more important than helping poor people and immigrants

'Our defence of the innocent unborn, for example, needs to be clear, firm and passionate. Equally sacred however are the lives of the poor,' says pontiff

The pope’s decision to draw a moral parity between the two issues stems from the fact his vision of holiness explicitly draws attention to the plight of migrants (Getty)

Pope Francis has argued caring for migrants and the poor is as holy as taking a stand against abortion.

The pontiff, who has clashed with US president Donald Trump on immigration and has made defence of migrants a critical part of his papacy, urged followers to battle for the rights of the poor as powerfully as they would resist abortion.

His 100-page document – an apostolic exhortation titled “Gaudete et Exsultate,” or “Rejoice and Be Glad” – issued a rebuke to Catholic anti-abortion activists who concentrate so closely on the issue of abortion that it eclipses other questions.

“The other harmful ideological error is found in those who find suspect the social engagement of others, seeing it as superficial, worldly, secular, materialist, communist or populist,” the religious leader wrote in an apostolic exhortation on the subject of holiness revealed by the Vatican on Monday morning.

“Our defence of the innocent unborn, for example, needs to be clear, firm and passionate. Equally sacred, however, are the lives of the poor, those already born, the destitute, the abandoned.”

The pontiff's decision to draw moral parity between the two issues is linked to the fact his vision of holiness explicitly draws attention to the plight of migrants.

“We often hear it said that, with respect to relativism and the flaws of our present world, the situation of migrants, for example, is a lesser issue,” he said. “Some Catholics consider it a secondary issue compared to the ‘grave’ bioethical questions.”

Observers argued the new declaration could be deemed to be too progressive by his critics.

Pope Francis makes it obvious the major teaching document, which is titled "Rejoice and Be Glad; On the Call to Holiness in Today's World”, is not intended “to be a treatise on holiness” but to “re-propose the call to holiness in a practical way for our own time.”

The religious leader, who gave Catholic priests the power to forgive abortions back in 2016, also uses it to urge Catholics to reach for holiness in daily life.

Pope Francis has in the past lashed out at those who he perceived to be "obsessed" with issues of abortion and homosexuality.

"It's not necessary to talk about these issues all the time," he said in a 2013 interview.

Pope Francis has previously called on world leaders to do more to help refugees and migrants in a plea to put pressure on politicians to improve what he called the “lamentable” situation facing people fleeing conflict.

He said states must also do more to help refugees into work and education and called for wealthier nations to support developing countries that are dealing with the brunt of the refugee crisis. He has also condemned politicians who propagate alarm over immigration and argued their fear-mongering engenders violence and racism.