Rome, Italy

Pope Francis on Friday (May 10) urged the Italians to have children. He pressed his campaign to call for long-term policies to help families tackle the issues of falling birth rates and ageing population. He also warned that the country's demographic crisis was threatening the future. 

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While speaking at an annual gathering of pro-family groups, Pope said, "The number of births is the first indicator of the hope of a people. Without children and young people, a country loses its desire for the future." 

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"Effective policies are urgently needed, courageous, concrete and long-term choices... There is a need for greater commitment from all governments so that the young generations are put in a position to realize their legitimate dreams," the Pope said. 

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Pope's appeal was not only for Italy but for the entire Europe to tackle what he has called the demographic winter in many nations. 

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Italy's demographic crisis 

Italy's birth rate is already one of the lowest in the world. Italy has been falling steadily for about 15 years and reached a record low last year with 379,000 babies born.

He said, "There is a fact that a demographics scholar told me. Right now the investments that give the most revenue are the arms factories and contraceptives. One destroys life, the other prevents life ... What future do we have? It is ugly." 

"Homes are filled with objects and emptied of children, becoming very sad places. There is no shortage of little dogs, cats. These are not lacking. There is a lack of children," the Pope said.

According to the Pope, the government should formulate policies that enable mothers not to have to choose between work and childcare. The policies should give young couples a stable job and the possibility to buy a house. 

"I know that for many of you, the future may seem unsettling and that amidst declining birth rates, wars, pandemics and climate change it is not easy to keep hope alive. But do not give up, have faith," the Pope said, referring to young people.

(With inputs from agencies)