“The problem of our world is not the children that are born: it is selfishness, consumerism and individualism, which leave people satisfied, alone and unhappy,” is what Pope Francis writes in a post by X (old Twitter ) from your @Pontifex account, on the day #WorldPopulationDay is celebrated, a day established by the United Nations to draw attention to the urgency and importance of population issues.
Human life is not a problem, it is a gift
The Holy Father’s post for this day has been taken from the speech he gave last May 10 during his participation in the IV edition of the General States of Birth. On that occasion, in the Conciliation Auditorium in Rome, the Pontiff proposed to the participants three keywords to promote birth. Referring to the first word, realism, the Pope said that, at the root of the problem of pollution and lack of food, is not the birth of children, but the selfish choices of materialism and consumerism that affect the person and society.
“The problem is not how many of us there are in the world, but what world we are building – that is the problem –; it is not children, but selfishness, that creates injustices and structures of sin, to the point of interweaving unhealthy interdependencies between social, economic and political systems.”
Promote the culture of generosity
For this reason, the Holy Father indicated that the number of births is the first indicator of hope for a population. Since without children and young people, a people lose its desire for the future. And to awaken that desire, the Pope affirmed, effective policies and courageous, concrete and long-term decisions are needed to sow today so that our children can reap tomorrow.
“A greater commitment from all governments is necessary, so that the young generations are in a position to realize their legitimate dreams. It is about making serious and effective decisions in favor of the family.”
The future is built by having children
The third key word that Pope Francis proposed was courage. And addressing especially young people, the Pontiff said that, despite the sometimes dramatic situations of wars and pandemics, they must maintain hope in the future and be brave, because it is something that is built together with the Lord, as he tells us. in the Gospel.
“Let’s make this ‘but’ ours, everyone, here and now. Let’s not resign ourselves to a script already written by others, let’s start rowing to reverse course, even if it is at the cost of going against the current!
Therefore, on the day in which we reflect on the future of the population, its relationship with the environment and its development, Pope Francis invites us to maintain hope and promote a culture of solidarity.
