VATICAN: Pope Francis decried the global state of democracy and warned against the rise of “populists” during a brief visit to Trieste in Italy’s northeast on Sunday, ahead of his upcoming 12-day journey to Asia, the longest trip of his papacy.
Addressing a national Catholic event at Trieste’s convention center, the pontiff lamented the challenges facing democracy worldwide, declaring, “Democracy is not in good health in the world today.” Without singling out specific nations, Francis warned against the appeal of “ideological temptations and populists,” coinciding with France’s second-round parliamentary vote where the far-right National Rally party was poised for significant gains.
“Ideologies are seductive,” Pope Francis warned, drawing on the analogy of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, known from German folklore. “They seduce but lead you to deny yourself.” He criticized the prevailing “culture of rejection,” which he argued excludes vulnerable groups such as the poor, the unborn, the sick, and marginalized persons, urging for greater societal inclusion from the early stages of life.
“The culture of rejection creates a city where there is no place for the poor, the unborn, the fragile, the sick, children, women, the young,” he regretted.
In the context of recent European Parliament elections, where concerns over populism and nationalism were echoed by bishops across multiple countries, Pope Francis emphasized the dangers of polarization and self-referential power dynamics that he believes impoverish societies.
Trieste marked the third domestic visit within Italy for the 87-year-old pontiff this year, following earlier trips to Venice and Verona. The city, situated on the Adriatic Sea near the Slovenian border, provided a platform for Francis to engage with various groups, including religious and academic figures, migrants, and persons with disabilities.
The visit culminated in a mass attended by approximately 8,500 worshippers in Trieste’s main public square, where Pope Francis reiterated his call for unity and solidarity amidst societal divisions.
Pope Francis, who has faced health challenges in recent years, has limited his travels primarily to domestic destinations since a trip to Marseille, France, in September 2023. His forthcoming journey to Asia in September will encompass visits to Indonesia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor.
