Leader of the Catholic Church Pope Francis attended a meeting at the hall in Via della Conciliazione near the Vatican where he called upon young people to preserve in the face of adversity.
Pope Francis touched on the difficulties around bringing children into the world and urged young people to build a life together and have kids despite an unsettling future.
Sources of Trouble
During his comments, Pope Francis named several sources of trouble in recent memory.
“I know that for many of you, the future may see unsettling, and that between falling birthrates, wars, pandemics and climate change it’s not easy to keep hope alive,” Francis said.
Don’t Give Up
The Pope acknowledged that while many people are feeling unsure, that ultimately a relationship with God should mean that believers should not wallow in that fear.
“But don’t give up, have faith, because tomorrow is not something inevitable: We build it together, and this together we find first and foremost with the Lord,” said Pope Francis.
Going Against the Current
Pope Francis warned about young people getting swept up in a current down the wrong path, and that they need the courage to fight against it.
“[Don’t] follow a script written by others. Let’s row to turn the tide, even at the cost of going against the current,” Francis said.
Life is a Gift
The Pope pushed back against certain attitudes and theories believed by some that forms of population control are necessary to avoid certain crises related to economic and environmental consumption.
“I was always amazed by how these views, which are outdated and superseded, refer to human beings as if they were problems. But human life is not a problem, it’s a gift,” said the Pope.
Children Aren’t the Problem
Francis made clear that he doesn’t see the reproduction of humans as the problem, but that the sins and vices of the world that make humans selfish.
“No, the problem with our world is not children being born. It’s selfishness, consumerism, individualism, which render people complacent, alone and unhappy,” said the Pope.
Population Crisis
In the past decades, humans in countries across the world have had less children, an issue that will play itself out in the economy as populations continually get older.
The global population rate has halved in the past 70 years and as of 2021 over half of all countries have a population growth rate below replacement.
What is the Replacement Rate?
Replacement rate is a measurement used by researchers to determine whether a population is adequately replacing its population as members grow old and die. A stable population will have a replacement rate of at least 2.1. This means that there are 2.1 children born for every 1 woman.
The reason 2 is used as the number is to account for both the man and the woman needing replacing. The ratio is slightly higher than 2, at 2.1, to account for deaths in childhood.
World Population Growth Expected To Stop
The Earth currently has more than 7 billion people living on it, which may sound like a lot, and some assert that the planet has too many people living on it.
However, Pew Research estimates that the world will stop growing by 2100, and as people age and have fewer kids, the world population will start to rapidly shrink.
Aging Population
One issue with low population growth is that it creates a population of older people, who are more prone to health problems and are unable to work in certain industries. The Pope warned of the spiritual consequences of an aging population.
“The Old Continent is becoming more and more an aging, tired and resigned continent, so taken with exorcizing loneliness and distress that it no longer knows how to enjoy the true beauty of life,” said the Pope.
China’s Population Halving
China, one of the world’s most populous countries, previously had tried a form of population control to limit its explosive growth. However, it has recently reversed course as it struggles with an aging population.
Researchers estimate that by 2100 China’s population will reduce to about half of its current 1.4 billion person population.
Lack of Desire
While there are many reasons that people assert why the population growth rate is falling so fast, the Pope pins the blame on a lack of desire for the future, where people only chase money. He also blamed the lucrative practice of making weapons for war, and the prevalence of contraceptives.
“The former destroy life, the latter impede life,” Francis said. “What future awaits us?”
