Pope FrancisImage Credit source: @JacksonGault4
Pope Francis in Italy: Pope Francis has said a big thing on Italy’s demographic crisis. He warned that only rich people are able to afford children here. In many homes, pets have taken the place of children. There were other people on the stage with the Pope, who said that they would appeal to people to have more children. Italy is one of the European countries with the lowest fertility set. Last year in 2022, for the first time in Italy, the birth rate has decreased below 400,000.
This is the 14th consecutive time that the birth rate in Italy has declined. The population of 58.85 million registered a decline of 179,000 last year. Pope Francis was speaking on the demographic crisis in Rome. He said that there are many reasons for the decline in the birth rate. He said that the search for a stable job, continuous increase in house rent and low salary are some of the reasons, due to which the decline in birth rate is being seen here. Along with this, he said that in many homes animals have taken the place of children.
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🎥VIDEO | Pope Francis and Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni discussed “The General State of the Birth Rate” at a conference held close to the Vatican. During the meeting, the Holy Father emphasized the importance of this issue for the future of Italy and Europe. He also shared how pic.twitter.com/UcRkNzQzD6
— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) May 12, 2023
Italy is the third largest country in Europe, decreasing population is a big concern
The Pope also recalled the moment when a woman opened her bag and requested to pray for her child. When the woman opened the bag, she saw that there was a small dog in the bag. The birth rate is falling not only in Italy. Rather, Japan, South Korea and Portugal are among those countries where the birth rate is continuously falling. The dwindling population is a major concern for Italy, which is the third largest country in Europe.
By 2050, a large part of Italy’s population will be clean
Due to the ever-decreasing population of Italy, it is feared that by 2050, Italy will lose about one-fifth of its population. Now that new babies are not being born, but Italy’s population is aging rapidly. Italy is often called the home of the empty cradle. Even Elon Musk has said last year that “Italy is disappearing”. Due to the population crisis, poverty can also increase here.
Decreasing population is also a threat to Italy’s economy
Italy’s Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said that by 2042, Italy’s declining birthrate will reduce its gross domestic product (GDP) by 18%. There are many reasons why women in Italy have fewer children. Young people do not have stable jobs, childcare support systems are inadequate – women find it difficult to balance work and family. According to the charity Save the Children, 6 out of 10 mothers do not have access to nursery. Many pregnant women are forced to resign, and some are fired while pregnant.
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