12m
2 Aug 2019

The Pope v the populists

Foreign Affairs Correspondent

Under Pope Francis, the Catholic Church has become a radical, pro-migrant voice. From washing the feet of refugees to calling for open borders, his message of love-thy-neighbour is clear. But on the other side, there’s Matteo Salvini, who fronts Italy’s populist Lega party.

His anti-immigration agenda has proven a big vote winner and has exposed the tension between religion and politics in Italy. The Catholic Church has stayed diplomatic so far, but how long before it decides to intervene?