Pope health: Top topic in Italy-where does the nation really stand?

Pope health: Top topic in Italy-where does the nation really stand?

Rom, Italien - The Pope's state of health is currently attracting most public attention in Italy. According to a survey by the Bilendi Institute, which was carried out in cooperation with the Catholic University of Sacro Cuore, the health of the Pontifex is the most important issue for 30 percent of those surveyed. In second place are EU policy and the cost of living (19 percent each), followed by the economic development of Italy and the Ukraine conflict, each received 17 percent of the votes. While the concern for the situation in the Middle East is only considered important by five percent, the concern for the Pope remains in the first place, such as kathpress.at reported .

On the economic side, Italy shows promising developments for 2025, with a real GDP growth of 1 percent, as the European Commission predicts. Exports are expected to increase by 2.3 percent, while imports will increase by 2.9 percent, which slightly reduces the export surplus. Despite the positive expectations, there are challenges, especially due to the north-south gradient in economic output, where GDP per capita in the south is 85.8 percent lower than in the north. In addition, the public budget situation remains tense, with a forecast for the total debt of 138.2 percent of GDP in 2025, such as deutschwelle.de reported .

investments and construction industry under pressure

The Italian investments in equipment are expected to increase by 6.4 percent in 2025, while the building investments could drop by 3.8 percent. Rising interest rates and delays in funding programs have negatively influenced construction activity. However, the population shows a positive attitude towards the expansion of renewable energies, with a survey of 2024, which shows that 67 percent of those surveyed see the fight against climate change as a national priority. These developments represent an interesting connection between the health interest of the population and the economic perspectives for the country. The persistent concerns about the health of the Pope can be interpreted as part of a wider discourse on national identity and values in Italy.