Pope Francis: Populism is evil - democracy needs change!

Pope Francis: Populism is evil - democracy needs change!

In his recently published autobiography "Hope" Pope Francis urgently warns of the dangers of populism and the instrumentalization of human fears by political actors. The 88-year-old in particular calls on the youth to recognize the mechanisms of populism in order to avoid historical mistakes. "The promises based on fear are the beginning of dictatorship and wars," he says in his work. He further explains that many people can no longer believe in a positive future today and sees in fear "The root of slavery", which can lead to indifference and violence, such as kathpress.at reported.

populism as a threat

In an revealing interview with the "Zeit", Francis also commented on the rise of populism in western democracies. "Populism is angry and ends badly," he warned, explaining that he always needed a Messiah to use the people. During the conversation, the Pope reflected on his belief, his human faulty and the lack of priests, especially in Germany, which presented the Church with great challenges. "Truth is not to be afraid," he emphasized, because fear closes doors while freedom opens it. This reflects the central thoughts of his message that a healthy society urgently has to overcome financial and social fears and the associated false information in order to preserve democracy, as The ZEIT reported.

Francis demands more than just a superficial commitment in democracy; People should have to work together in a collective dream in order to maintain the dignity and freedom of each individual. The political landscape, he says, should not be dominated by populist ideologies, but must create space for real participation and exchange. This appeal is particularly relevant at a time when many people are susceptible to manipulative political rhetoric.