Pope Francis critiques populism, democracy’s health

Pope Francis voiced grave concerns over the current state of democracy worldwide and cautioned against the allure of populist ideologies during a brief visit to Trieste on Sunday. This visit precedes his upcoming 12-day trip to Asia, which will be the longest of his papacy.

“Democracy is not in good health in the world today,” Pope Francis declared in a speech at the city’s convention center, which served as the closing event for a national Catholic gathering.

Without identifying specific countries, the pope warned of “ideological temptations and populists.” His remarks came on the day of the second round of France’s snap parliamentary elections, where the far-right National Rally (RN) party is anticipated to secure a significant share of the vote.

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

Pope Francis criticized the “culture of rejection,” which he said marginalizes the poor, the unborn, the fragile, the sick, children, women, and the young. He emphasized the importance of fostering social participation from childhood.

In the lead-up to last month’s European Parliament elections, bishops across several countries also expressed concerns about the rise of populism and nationalism. Far-right parties have already gained power in Italy, Hungary, and the Netherlands.

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

The half-day trip to Trieste, a city of 200,000 on the Adriatic Sea bordering Slovenia, was the pope’s third domestic visit this year, following visits to Venice in April and Verona in May. At 87, Pope Francis has faced increasing health challenges and has limited his travel to within Italy since a trip to Marseille in September 2023.

Despite his health issues, the pope plans a nearly two-week visit to Asia in September, including stops in Indonesia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor.

During his visit to Trieste, which began shortly before 9:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT), Pope Francis met with various groups, including members of the religious and academic communities, migrants, and the disabled.

The visit concluded with a mass attended by approximately 8,500 worshippers in the city’s main public square. Pope Francis returned to the Vatican in the early afternoon.