Pope laments ‘retreat from democracy’ and decries abortion, euthanasia

From Athens, Pope Francis spoke warnings applicable to much of the world, lamenting a "retreat from democracy" happening in many countries, and decrying both abortion and euthanasia.

In Athens, the cradle of democracy, he made a plea for a move from "partisanship to participation," so that the good can be truly shared. And he again called for Europe to change its attitude on the issue of migrants.

The Holy Father noted the special mission of Greece in the world: "Without Athens and without Greece, Europe and the world would not be what they are. They would be less wise, less happy."

And, he reflected:

And it was in Greece that "according to the celebrated words of Socrates, people began to view themselves as citizens not only of a single city, or a single country, but of the entire world. Citizens. ... Here democracy was born."

But, the Pope warned, "We cannot avoid noting with concern how today, and not only in Europe, we are witnessing a retreat from democracy."

Democracy requires "hard work and patience," Pope Francis acknowledged. Whereas "authoritarianism is peremptory and populism’s easy answers appear attractive."

Concern for security, the dulling effect of consumerism, the distance of institutions, fear of a loss of identity, bureaucracy ... all these can lead to a skepticism about democracy.

"Good politics" is the remedy, the Pope proposed: "For politics is, and ought to be in practice, a good thing, as the supreme responsibility of citizens and as the art of the common good."

The Pope said that there must be an emphasis on caring for the weakest.

Speaking of the challenges caused by the pandemic, the Pope referred to the oath of Hippocrates, saying that some seems written for our time:

The Holy Father reflected on some of the age-old olive trees of the Mediterranean, some of which predate the coming of Christ. They remind us, he said, "of preserving deep roots, fortified by memory. This country can rightly be called the memory of Europe – you are the memory of Europe – and I am happy to visit twenty years after the historic visit of Pope John Paul II, and in this year that marks the bicentenary of its independence."