At an event in northeastern Italy, Pope Francis says a “crisis of democracy” is impacting several nations around the world.
Pope Francis denounced the state of democracy and warned against “populists” during a brief visit to Trieste in northeastern Italy.
Speaking at the Roman Catholic Church's annual convention on social issues on Sunday, Francis noted that many people feel excluded from democracy and that the poor and weak are left to fend for themselves.
“It is clear that democracy is not in good health in today's world,” he said, denouncing polarization and partisanship.
“Ideologies are seductive. Some people compare them to the Pied Piper of Hamelin. They seduce you, but they lead you to deny yourself,” he said, referring to a fairy tale in which a rat-catcher uses his magical powers to steal the children of a village.
He said the “crisis of democracy” affects several nations, but did not give specific examples.
Ahead of last month's European Parliament elections, Catholic bishops in several countries also warned of rising populism and nationalism, with far-right parties already holding the reins of power in Italy, Hungary and the Netherlands.
The pope's speech came on the day France holds a second round of parliamentary elections in which the far-right National Rally (RN) party is expected to win the largest share of the vote, a month after populist parties made gains in European Union elections.
Francis urged us to “move away from polarizations that impoverish” and attacked “self-referential power.”
“Let us not be fooled by easy solutions, but rather let us be passionate about the common good,” said the Pope, stressing the damage caused by “corruption and political illegality.”
The pope, who rules as an absolute monarch in the tiny Vatican state, said it was also important to teach children the importance of democratic values, warning that “indifference is a cancer of democracy.”
“I am concerned about the low number of people who turned out to vote. Why is this happening?” he asked.
Pope Francis concluded his visit to Trieste with a mass before some 8,500 faithful in the city's main public square before returning to the Vatican in the early afternoon.
As usual, the 87-year-old pontiff moved around the region mainly in a wheelchair and appeared in good shape.
In September, he is scheduled to fly more than 32,000 kilometers (19,900 miles) on a 12-day trip through Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore, the longest of his 11-year papacy.
