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ATHENS: Pope Francis warned Saturday, December 4, 2021, that the “simple solutions” of populism and authoritarianism threaten democracy in Europe and referred to as for contemporary dedication to selling the frequent good.
Arriving in Greece, the birthplace of democracy, Francis used a speech to Greek political and cultural leaders to handle Europe at giant in regards to the threats dealing with the continent. He stated solely strong multilateralism can handle the urgent problems with the day, from defending the setting to combating the pandemic and poverty.
“Politics wants this, with a purpose to put frequent wants forward of personal pursuits,” Francis stated. “But we can not keep away from noting with concern how right now, and never solely in Europe, we’re witnessing a retreat from democracy.”
Francis, who lived by way of Argentina’s populist Peronist period in addition to its army dictatorship, has regularly warned about the specter of authoritarianism and populism and the hazard it poses to the European Union and democracy itself.
He did not title any particular international locations or leaders throughout his speech. The EU, nonetheless, is locked in a feud with members Poland and Hungary over rule-of-law points, with Warsaw insisting that Polish legislation takes priority over EU insurance policies and laws.
Outdoors the bloc, populist leaders in Brazil and the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump pressed nationalist insurance policies on the setting that contrasted sharply with Francis’ name to look after “our frequent house.”
Opening the second leg of his five-day journey to Cyprus and Greece, Francis recalled that it was in Greece, in response to Aristotle, that man grew to become acutely aware of being a political animal and a member of a group of fellow residents.
“Right here, democracy was born,” Francis informed Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. “That cradle, 1000’s of years later, was to turn out to be a home, an amazing home of democratic peoples. I’m talking of the European Union and the dream of peace and fraternity that it represents for thus many peoples.”
That dream is in danger amid the financial upheaval and different disruptions of the pandemic that may breed nationalist sentiments and make authoritarianism appear “compelling and populism’s simple solutions seem engaging,” Francis stated.
“The treatment is to not be present in an obsessive quest for reputation, in a thirst for visibility, in a flurry of unrealistic guarantees … however in good politics,” he stated.
For instance, Francis praised the “mandatory vaccination marketing campaign” promoted by authorities authorities to tame the coronavirus. He referenced one other Greek thinker – Hippocrates – in response to vaccine skeptics and virus deniers, who rely many non secular conservatives amongst them.
Francis cited the Hippocratic oath to not solely do what’s finest for the sick, however to “abstain from no matter is dangerous and offensive to others,” particularly the aged.
Greece’s president the sentiment in her speech. “The virus spreads and mutates, helped by the irrational denial of actuality and inequalities in our societies,” Sakellaropoulou stated.
Greece is grappling with its highest stage of coronavirus infections for the reason that begin of the pandemic with deaths approaching file ranges. 1 / 4 of the nation’s adults stay unvaccinated, and Parliament not too long ago authorized a vaccine mandate for folks over age 60.
Francis’ journey has been clouded by the Dec. 2 demise of the Vatican’s ambassador to the European Union, Archbishop Aldo Giordano. He and the president of the Italian bishops’ convention have been amongst a number of prelates who examined constructive after celebrating Francis’ remaining Mass in Slovakia in September.
The Vatican’s EU embassy insisted that Giordano caught the virus days earlier throughout a European bishops’ assembly in Hungary.
Francis’ go to to Cyprus and Greece additionally has targeted on the plight of migrants as Europe hardens its border management insurance policies. He’s scheduled to journey Sunday to the Aegean Sea island of Lesbos, the place he visited 5 years in the past to satisfy with migrants at a detention camp.
In Athens, Francis can also be assembly the chief of Greece’s Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos.
In 2001, Pope John Paul II grew to become the primary Catholic chief to go to Greece in additional than 1,200 years and Francis’ go to 20 years later is anticipated to additional Catholic-Orthodox ties, nonetheless wounded by the Nice Schism that divided Christianity.
Francis has accelerated inter-faith initiatives, as the 2 church buildings try to shift from centuries of competitors and distrust towards collaboration.
Orthodox church buildings are additionally searching for alliances amid a deepening dispute over the independence of the Ukrainian church, which was traditionally ruled by the Russian Orthodox Church.
“I believe the presence of the pope in Greece and Cyprus alerts a return to the conventional relationship that we must always have … in order that we will transfer towards what’s most vital of all: the unity of the Christian world,” Ioannis Panagiotopoulos, an affiliate professor of divinity and church historical past at Athens College, informed The Related Press.
As much as 4,000 cops have been readied for responsibility in Athens for the pope’s go to, and authorities banned protests and enormous public gatherings in components of central Athens over the weekend.
The pope’s go to ends Monday.
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