Pope sees the state of democracy as "not in good health"
Pope Francis expressed concern about the state of democracy in many countries. "Let's be honest: Democracy is not in good health in today's world," the head of the Catholic Church said at an event in the northern Italian city of Trieste on Sunday. At the same time, he called for participation in democratic processes, such as voting. The Pope literally said: "Indifference is a cancer of democracy." He explicitly warned against the "allure of populism."
Francis concluded a week-long event series where the Catholic Church mainly dealt with social issues. Before about 1,200 participants, he said: "Everyone must feel like part of a community project. No one should feel useless." Behind the detachment from social reality often lies indifference. The Pope did not go into detail about which countries his criticism of the state of democracy refers to. Francis also expressed concern about the declining voter turnout in many countries.
"Democracy demands that conditions be created so that everyone can express themselves," he explicitly appealed to members of the Catholic Church to take responsibility in politics. "We cannot be content with a private faith," he said. "That means having the courage to make proposals for justice and peace in public debate."
The 87-year-old Pontiff, who struggles with health issues, has not been on a long overseas trip for over a year. In recent weeks, he visited various cities in Italy, including Venice, Verona, and now Trieste. In mid-June, Francis - who is also the head of state of the Vatican - participated in the G7 summit of the seven major democratic industrial nations in Southern Italy.
In September, he plans to travel to Southeast Asia and the Pacific region for twelve days, his longest overseas trip so far. Stations include Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. Shortly thereafter, a trip to Luxembourg and Belgium is scheduled.
Francis highlighted the need for everyone's participation in democracy, stating, "Democracy demands that conditions be created so that everyone can express themselves." He further emphasized the role of the Catholic Church in politics, saying, "We cannot be content with a private faith; that means having the courage to make proposals for justice and peace in public debate." Despite his health challenges, the Pope continues to engage in domestic and international events, such as his upcoming journey to Southeast Asia and the Pacific region.
