Democracy is not in good shape, Pope Francis said today, urging politicians to abandon populism and instead work together to build stronger societies and deal with voter apathy, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Speaking at the annual Catholic Convention on Social Affairs in Trieste, the Pope said many feel excluded from democracy.
„It can be seen that in today's world democracy is not in a good state,”, he declared. According to him, a healthy democracy must avoid “impurities of ideology” and to separate itself from party infighting, and instead to focus on dialogue on the essential issues".
„Let us not be deceived by easy solutions. Let us instead feel the desire to help the common good”, he urged.
According to Francis, it is important that children be taught the importance of democratic values, warning that “indifference is the cancer of democracy”.
„I am worried about the small number of people going to vote. Why is it happening like this?“, he also asked.