Pope Leo XIV decried a rejection of Christian values in European institutions, leading to what he characterized as "a time of drastic sterility" and "purportedly family-friendly policies" that also support abortion.
In a May 25 audience with members of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Demography, the pope underscored the central place of the family — founded on marriage between a man and a woman — as a pillar for avoiding both excessive state intervention and the advance of individualism.
The Holy Father denounced what he described as a "rejection of the Christian inspiration of the founding fathers of the EU institutions," which in his view has led "to a time of drastic sterility, not only because too many have been deprived of the right to be born, but also because there has been a failure to pass on the material and cultural tools that young people need to face the future."
"As a result, we are not infrequently faced with the contradictory claims of purportedly family-friendly policies, which simultaneously promote discrimination against motherhood, exalt abortion as a right, and undermine the very foundation of the desire to start a family," Leo warned.
He insisted on the need to study these issues within academic, political, and social bodies, affirming that the demographic challenge "stands as a crucial juncture for the anthropological, social, and economic future of Europe."
'Pandemic of loneliness'
In his speech the pope also described Europe's demographic decline as "an urgent challenge," one that encompasses not only the problems arising from an aging population but also what he called "the pandemic of loneliness."
According to Eurostat's latest report on demographics in Europe, all European Union countries have recorded declining birth rates since 2004. In 2024, the rate stood at 7.9 live births per 1,000 inhabitants, and in 2025 the EU's median age reached 44.9 years.
The pontiff emphasized that demographic data "are not merely statistics but speak of fatherhood, motherhood, and children. And children are the future!" He also stressed that "solidarity between generations," currently lacking in Europe, is essential for achieving integral and sustainable development.
The vital role of the family in society
According to the Holy Father, the key to finding solutions to demographic challenges lies in "the fundamental dignity of all persons" and in the role of the family in society. He recalled that the family is "the first and irreplaceable school of social life" and is "founded on marriage between a man and a woman."
For this reason, he urged the parliamentarians to promote shared responsibility and the active role of families in social, political, and cultural life, because, he said, "only by respecting and promoting this central place of the family, and applying the principle of subsidiarity, is it possible to avoid the two extremes of excessive state intervention and individualism."
This approach, he noted, provides the "unchanging principles that can surely guide" society in answering fundamental questions: "What is the meaning and value of human life; what is an authentic human society; and what kind of world do we want to hand on to future generations."
'A fresh springtide for the family'
On this basis, he emphasized that national and European Union policies "need to be developed and formulated in partnership with civil society" so that "policies look to human persons in their entirety and always promote the dignity of human beings."
"In this way, a genuinely human path can be opened for resolving the demographic crisis, oriented toward the common good and the well-being of future generations," he said.
In conclusion, the pope stressed that "only a fresh springtide for the family can transform the winter chill of our aging populations!"
The meeting at the Vatican took place on the occasion of the Conference on the Family and Demography held in Rome, which was also attended by the European commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica; Italy's minister for family, natality, and equal opportunities, Eugenia Roccella; and the OSCE special representative on demographic change and security, Gudrun Kugler.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
