SW News: Pope Francis on Sunday shared his concern on the “Italian demographic winter.” After the Angelus prayer the Pope reminded that the birth rate in the country has decreased and warned that the “future is in danger.”

“Let us take up this concern and seek to ensure that this demographic winter ends and a new springtime of boys and girls thrives,” urged the Holy Father.

Italy celebrated the Day for Life on February 7 with the theme ‘Freedom and life.’ Pope Francis stated that freedom was a great gift that God has given us. This freedom should enable “us to seek and achieve our own good and that of others, beginning with the primary good of life,” he encouraged the faithful.

The Pope reiterated how the society needs to be healed from “all attacks on life” in order to protect it at all stages.

According to the national statistics bureau Istat, 2019 recorded the lowest number of births, only 435,000, in Italy.

Several factors such as increased rate of emigration, unemployment and lack of affordable housing and childcare facilities have been causing a steep decline in the country’s birth rate.