Pope Francis on Sunday condemned populist politics and what he called the “scum of ideology,” warning that democracy was not in good shape in many parts of the world.
The 87-year-old pope was in the northeastern city of Trieste for a brief visit, his fourth trip to Italy in just over two months, as he prepares for a 12-day trip to Asia in September, the longest of his pontificate.
Speaking at an annual Roman Catholic conference on social issues, Francis said many people feel excluded from democracy, with the poor and weak left to fend for themselves.
“It is clear that democracy is not in good health in today’s world,” he said, condemning polarization and partisanship.
“Ideologies are seductive. Some compare them to the Pied Piper of Hamelin. They seduce you but lead you to deny yourself,” he said, referring to a fairy tale in which a rat catcher uses his magical powers to kidnap the children of a city.
He said the “crisis of democracy” had hit several nations, but did not give specific examples.
The Pope spoke on the day France holds the second round of parliamentary elections, with the far-right Réunion National (RN) expected to receive the most votes, a month after populist parties won the European Union elections.
Source: Terra
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