Starting a family in Italy will be a “major challenge” that can only be achieved by the well-to-do, according to Pope Francis. Speaking at a conference on the demographic crisis in Italy, he stressed that pets are increasingly taking the place of children in many households.
Italy has one of the lowest fertility rates in the EU, with births reaching an all-time low of less than 400,000 last year. In his speech in Rome, the pope stressed that the declining birth rate indicates a lack of hope for the future, with younger generations facing feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability.
The pope also warned that pets are taking the place of children in some households. He shared an anecdote where a woman opened her purse and asked him to “bless her baby.” To his surprise, he discovered that it was not a baby, but a small dog. With some frustration he said to her: “There are many children who are hungry, and you bring me a dog?”. The pope’s remark drew audience applause.
Experts warn that the shrinking population is a serious problem for Italy. By 2050, the country could lose nearly a fifth of its inhabitants. The number of centenarians in Italy has tripled in the last 20 years, in what the country has often referred to as “the land of empty cribs”. Even Elon Musk tweeted last month: “Italy is disappearing!”
Falling birth rates
Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti has stated that Italy’s declining birth rate is expected to cause an 18 percent drop in gross domestic product (GDP) by 2042. Experts warn of the impoverishment of the nation as a result of this demographic crisis.
To deal with the problem of declining birth rates, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has set up a special ministry. Pope Francis urges politicians to “find forward-looking solutions to prevent Italy from spiraling downwards.”
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