Pope Benedict: Europe 'Losing Faith in Its Future'

[Aptrgangr]

Pope Benedict: Europe 'Losing Faith in Its Future'

Europe appears to be losing faith in its own future, Pope Benedict XVI said, warning against "dangerous individualism" on a continent where many people are having fewer children.

"One must unfortunately note that Europe seems to be going down a road which could lead it to take its leave from history," the pontiff told bishops in Rome for ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, a major step toward the creation of today's European Union.

Benedict said he was concerned about Europe's "demographic profile" — though he did not describe the trends that have alarmed the continent for decades.

In countries like Italy, where many married couples have one or no children, the population is expected to shrink dramatically in a generation or two unless fertility rates quickly increase.

Benedict expressed concern that Europe's population trends, "besides putting economic growth at risk, can also cause enormous difficulties for social cohesion, and, above all, favor dangerous individualism, careless about the consequences for the future."

"You could almost think that the European continent is in fact losing faith in its own future," Benedict said.

A recent Eurostat survey showed Poland's fertility rate to be the lowest in the EU, at 1.23 children per woman.

Sociologists and economists blame the economy, particularly the unemployment rate — at 14.9 percent the highest in the EU. Worried about losing their jobs, many women in Poland put off having children, often until it is too late.

Earlier this month, Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski proposed a new program of tax exemptions and support for working mothers in the hope of encouraging births and ensuring that Poles "continue as a nation."

Italy's fertility rate steadily plunged to a low of 1.25 children per women of childbearing age in 2001, with the last few years seeing a small turnaround, mainly due to births to immigrants.

Italian experts cite Italian's desire for an easier lifestyle, but they also blame shortages of day care centers, expensive housing and a sluggish job market which sees many Italians living at home until well into their 30s as reasons for the country's relatively few children.

Antonio Golini, an Italian demographer, told The Associated Press recently that unless the retirement age is raised, Italy will have more people drawing pensions than it will have workers in 2050.
Spain also has a low fertility rate, while France, with family friendly policies such as cheap day care and generous parental leave, has experienced a baby boom.

France had more babies in 2006 than in any year in the last quarter- century, capping a decade of rising fertility that has bucked Europe's graying trend. Its fertility rate in 2006 was 2.0 children per woman.

A rate of 2.1 children per woman is considered the minimum necessary to keep a population from shrinking.

© 2007 Associated Press.

Pope Benedict: Europe \'Losing Faith in Its Future\'

[Franze]

Completely agree but sadly He is like Cassandra in Greece.

[Strengthandhonour]

Too bad it has taken the pope so long to realize this or atleast try to be vocal about it.

[Susi]

The pope is always so awesome!

[Ederico]

Originally Posted by Strengthandhonour

Too bad it has taken the pope so long to realize this or atleast try to be vocal about it.

Actually he had already said this years ago while still a Cardinal in a speech on Europe, Relativism, Islam and Christianity where he even spoke of an "ethnic decline" in relation to declining birth rates and immigration. It is found in his book, in Italian (the original language of the speech), Senza Radici (without roots). There is an English version of it as well. The book also includes a related speech by Marcello Pera, back then President of the Italian Senate. Very good I must say.

You can definitely find the relative speech by the Pope online, in the Italian version. I've seen it before.

[Crvena zvezda]

Originally Posted by Strengthandhonour

Too bad it has taken the pope so long to realize this or atleast try to be vocal about it.

They haven't realized this. That is why all European nations are in an ethnic and demographic decline and it seems that nothing will be done to prevent this until it is far too late. Not only those but those who are vocal about it tend to be criticized in the media because the media tends to support muslims and other enemies of europe in it's decline.

[Marcus Marulus]

It's all well said, I agree with Pope, but I also think he failed to mention one small detail. A too much important detail, I would say. He did not mention one of the root causes of these negative phenomena and of the modern European mentality that produces them. And that cause is: (liberal) capitalism.

[Franze]

There are rumours, that after the motu propio about the tridentine mass, that it´s very necessary, a new encyclica about the work, is writing. But yes, the small and medium enterprise who are the the responsibles of the development of the economy are being destroyed by the private monopolies, namely, the multinationals. And this is a protestant thing, not a catholic. The catholic economy is small and medium enterprises, cooperatives and other things.