Leading Italian prelate laments demographic decline, persecution of Christians

May 18, 2016

In a May 17 address to his brother bishops, the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference welcomed recent documents and initiatives of Pope Francis and said that the Church in Italy has offered hospitality to 23,000 migrants.

Recalling the blood of Abel, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa lamented international indifference to the plight of persecuted Christians, especially in Syria, and decried Italy’s youth unemployment, rise in poverty, and increased poverty.

Stating that youth are not “guinea pigs,” the prelate also lamented homosexual civil unions, surrogacy, and gender ideology, as well as the nation’s demographic decline: the prelate said that in 2015, there were 488,000 births and 653,000 deaths, while 100,000 Italians left the country.

 

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Further information:

• Una Chiesa che cammina (CEI)