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Pope Francis issues veiled warning about Donald Trump: 'Populism is evil'

Pontiff also confesses to moments of spiritual doubt in interview with German newspaper Die Zeit

Thursday 09 March 2017 11:17 GMT
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Pope alludes to lessons of history on populism but doesn't mention new US President by name
Pope alludes to lessons of history on populism but doesn't mention new US President by name (Getty)

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Pope Francis has warned in an interview with a German newspaper of the dangers of rising populism in western democracies.

The pope told Die Zeit on Thursday “populism is evil and ends badly as the past century showed.”

He also said he rejects any kind of cult around the papacy and that he's a normal believer just like everyone else.

Pope Francis defends right of Burma's Rohingya Muslims to 'live their faith'

Francis said that, “I don't see myself as anything special... I'm a sinner, I'm fallible.”

In the first major interview that Francis has given a German newspaper, the pope was asked whether he experienced moments in which he doubted the existence of God. He responded: “I, too, know moments of emptiness.”

But, he pointed out periods of crisis are also a chance to grow, saying a believer who doesn't experience that remains “infantile.”

AP

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