Pope Francis warned on Tuesday the 13th that “extremism” and “populism” threaten peoples’ well-being.
The statement was made during a meeting with political, civil and diplomatic officials in Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan, which accepted the Catholic leader for an interfaith congress.
“Democracy and modernization cannot be relegated to proclamations. They unite in a tangible service to the people: It is good policy to listen to the people and respond to their legitimate needs, paying special attention to workers, youth and the most vulnerable groups, and also anti-corruption measures,” said the Pope.
“This truly democratic political style is the most effective response to possible extremism, personalities and populism that threatens the stability and well-being of peoples,” Francis said. said.
Jorge Bergoglio also said that “holistic development is held hostage to a pervasive injustice in which resources are unequally distributed”. “It is the duty of the State, as well as the private sector, to treat all components of the population with justice and equality of rights and duties,” he said.
Francis also underlined the need to “increase diplomatic commitment in favor of dialogue” and to avoid “emphasizing rivalries and strengthening opposing blocs”. “We need leaders at the international level who make people understand and engage in dialogue,” he said.
This was the Pope’s first speech during his 38th international visit to Kazakhstan.
This Wednesday (14), Francis attends the inaugural and plenary session of the 7th Congress of World Leaders and Traditional Religions, an event aimed at promoting interfaith dialogue and preventing the use of faith to justify wars.
At night, Bergoglio celebrates a liturgy for the Cossack loyalists.
Already on September 15, the pope repeats the tradition of meeting with local Jesuits and members of the clergy, as well as participating in the reading of the final document of the interfaith congress. Departure to Rome is planned in the afternoon.
There was an expectation that the Pope would meet with Cyril, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan, but the patriarch, who is close to the regime of Vladimir Putin and supports the occupation of Ukraine, withdrew from attending the congress in Nur-Sultan.
source: Noticias
