Pope Compares Conservatives to HITLER: ‘You Can't Live Sowing Hate'
Pontiff told the crowd that Nazi Germany expanded power via populism
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Pope Francis associated populists and conservatives concerned with protecting borders to Hitler, before warning that the 'sowing of hate' led to the Second World War.
During a book launch in Rome, the Pontiff told the crowd that Nazi Germany expanded power via populism.
Francis then said that help is needed to educate the young about the history of the Second World War so "that they do not fall into the same mistake and know how populism spreads."
The Pope spoke to huge crowds which included film director Martin Scorsese.
According to ANSA, the Pope said:
'It is essential that young people should know how populism is born.
'I think of Hitler last century, who had promised the development of Germany. That we know how populism starts: by sowing hate. You can't live sowing hate.'
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The Pope's remarks were made after a woman who teaches Italian to refugees told him at the book launch that she was concerned about a rise in anti-migrant sentiment.
According to the DM, he said governments are allowed to set immigration limits, adding that it was 'important for all of Europe to strike a deal on this problem'.
In January of last year, Pope Francis warned against a rise in populism and the dangers of allowing political crises to usher in dictators like Hitler.
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The 81-year-old pontiff told crowds at a book launch that populism begins by showing hate and called for renewed efforts to teach the young about the history of the First and Second World Wars.
He also denounced the use of barbed-wire fences to keep foreigners out.
He said at the time:
'Crises provoke fear, alarm.
'In my opinion, the most obvious example of European populism is Germany in 1933.
'Germany is broken, it needs to get up, to find its identity, a leader, someone capable of restoring its character, and there is a young man named Adolf Hitler who says: "I can, I can."
'And all Germans vote for Hitler. Hitler didn't steal the power, his people voted for him, and then he destroyed his people.'
