Pope Francis’ warning to “populists”

Vatican CITY:

Pope Francis condemned the state of democracy and warned against “populists” during a short visit to Trieste in northeastern Italy on Sunday, ahead of a 12-day trip to Asia – the longest of his papacy.

“Democracy is not in good health in the world today,” Francis said during a speech at the city’s convention center to close a national Catholic event.

Without naming any country, the pope warned against “ideological and populist temptations” on the day France holds the second round of an early parliamentary vote that looks set to see the far-right National Rally (RN) party take the lion’s share. of power. vote.

“Ideologies are seductive. Some people compare them to the Pied Piper of Hamelin: they seduce, but they lead you to deny yourself,” he said in reference to the German fairy tale.

Ahead of last month’s European Parliament elections, bishops in several countries also warned of the rise of populism and nationalism, with far-right parties already holding the reins of power in Italy, Hungary and the Netherlands.

Francis also urged people to “move away from polarizations that impoverish” and to attack “self-referential power.”

After Venice in April and Verona in May, the half-day trip to Trieste, a city of 200,000 inhabitants on the Adriatic Sea that borders Slovenia, marked the third trip to Italy this year for the pontiff of 87 years old, who has suffered increasing health problems in recent years.

Since traveling to the French city of Marseille, in September 2023, the Argentine Jesuit has limited himself to domestic trips.

But he plans to spend almost two weeks in Asia in September, visiting Indonesia, Singapore and the islands of Papua New Guinea and East Timor.

He arrived in Trieste shortly before 9am (0600 GMT) and was due to meet with various religious and academic groups, along with migrants and the disabled.

The papal visit is expected to end with a mass in the city’s main public square, before he leaves for the Vatican in the early afternoon.

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