Leo XIV warns of the “sharp increase” in the “plague” of gambling

Pope Leo XIV warned this Monday of the “sharp increase” in gambling and betting and pointed out that it causes the ruin of “many families”, in an audience with the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI).

“Unfortunately, our cities know forms of marginalization, violence, and loneliness that demand to be addressed. I would like to point out in particular the plague of gambling that ruins so many families,” he warned the mayors of the country.

Leo XIV noted that statistics record “a sharp increase” in this phenomenon in recent years and, citing the annual report carried out by Caritas, “it is a serious educational, mental health and social trust problem.”

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On the other hand, he also lamented other ills suffered within Italian cities such as “psychological problems, depressions, cultural or spiritual poverty, or social abandonment”.

All of these are, in your opinion, “signs that indicate how much hope is needed” in the contemporary world.

“To effectively testify to it, politics is called to weave authentically human relationships between citizens, promoting social peace,” he urged.

Leo XIV reminded the leaders of ANCI that “social cohesion and civic harmony require first of all listening to the weakest and poorest” because “without that commitment democracy atrophies”, he warned, paraphrasing a speech by Pope Francis from 2016.

“Have the courage to offer hope to people, projecting together the best future for your territories,” he concluded before the councilors, to whom he also reminded of other challenges such as the demographic crisis, pollution, the loneliness of the elderly, social conflicts or the “difficulties” of families and young people.