In democracy’s birthplace, pope warns of populist threats
ATHENS, GREECE — Pope Francis warned Saturday that the “easy answers” of populism and authoritarianism are threatening democracy in Europe and called for fresh dedication to promoting the common good rather than narrow, nationalist interests.
Arriving in Greece, the birthplace of democracy, Francis used a speech to Greek political and cultural leaders to warn Europe at large about the threats facing the continent.
He said only robust multi-lateralism can address the pressing issues of the day, from protecting the environment to fighting the pandemic and poverty.
“Politics needs this, in order to put common needs ahead of private interests,” Francis said.
“Yet we cannot avoid noting with concern how today, and not only in Europe, we are witnessing a retreat from democracy,” he said.
Francis, who lived through Argentina’s populist Peronist era as well as its military dictatorship, has frequently warned about the threat of authoritarianism and populism and the danger it poses to the European Union and democracy itself.
On the same day Francis warned about the populist threat to Europe, right-wing populist leaders met in Warsaw and declared they will work more closely together to defend their sovereignty at the European Parliament.
“Here, democracy was born,” Francis told Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
“That cradle, thousands of years later, was to become a house, a great house of democratic peoples. I am speaking of the European Union and the dream of peace and fraternity that it represents for so many peoples.”