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Pope decries populists, warns democracy is in bad health

Trieste, Italy Reuters Pope Francis denounced populist politics and what he called “the dross of ideology” on Sunday, warning that democracy was not in good shape in many parts of the world. The 87-year-old Pope was in the north-eastern city of Trieste for a flying visit, his fourth trip within Italy in just over two […]

Pope lunches with poor, denounces “sirens of populism”

Vatican World Day of the Poor Pope Francis

Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis ate lunch with hundreds of refugees, poor and homeless people on Sunday as he called for a renewed commitment to helping society’s weakest and denounced the “sirens of populism” that drown out their cries for help. Francis celebrated the Catholic Church’s World Day of the Poor by inviting an estimated […]

Pope Francis criticises “paternalism” of populist politicians

Pope Francis TED Talk Oct 2020

Vatican City RNS In an online message to grassroots community organisers on Thursday, Pope Francis  criticised a modern form of politician that he said “turns their back on the poor”, and he laid out his vision for a “politics with a capital P”. “Popularism,” what Pope Francis calls his alternative to populism, “is about finding […]

UN chief warns against repressive measures amid coronavirus crisis

Antonio Guterres Sept 2019

Reuters UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday the coronavirus could give some countries an excuse to adopt repressive measures for reasons unrelated to the pandemic as he warned that the outbreak risks becoming a human rights crisis. Guterres released a UN report highlighting how human rights should guide the response and recovery to the […]

In private meeting, Pope Francis opens up about his faith after his election

Pope meets with Jesuits 1

Vatican City RNS During informal conversations with Jesuit clergy in Africa, Pope Francis opened up about his spirituality after being made pope – and criticised clericalism in the Catholic Church for its fixation on sex rather than equity and integrity. “One dimension of clericalism is the exclusive moral fixation on the sixth commandment [which in […]