2023-05-13 08:12:59
Vatican City: Pope Francis stated that the birth rate is an indicator to measure the future prospects of each country. Pointing out that for the future of societies and countries to be bright, it is necessary to create a situation where parents give birth to more children.
The Pope was addressing a conference organized by the ‘Foundation for Births and Family Association’ in collaboration with the Italian government in the context of a serious decline in the country’s birth rate. The Pope’s words were in the presence of dignitaries including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. ‘Child births are a key indicator of people’s hope, and if there are fewer births, there is less hope,’ Pope said.
Italy’s birth rate, which has been declining every year, reached its lowest point in history in 2022. The birth rate for that year was just 393,000. The death rate that year was seven lakh. The conference was organized under the title ‘General State of Birth Rate’ in the context of declining birth rate which might lead to major economic and social consequences for the welfare system.
The Pope pointed out that this figure indicates the growing worries and uncertainty regarding the future for the younger generation due to wars, epidemics, mass migrations, displacements and climate crises. With the difficulty of finding steady work, the exorbitant cost of housing, high rents and inadequate wages, starting a family has become almost impossible.
All these are challenging the political authorities. The Pope also lamented the fact that in some households pets are replacing children when individual rights and liberties are prioritized over the rights of the family. Therefore, the Pope pointed out that to respond to the declining birth rate, it is necessary to turn to collective efforts and projects with the conviction that the family is not part of the problem, but part of the solution.
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