Pope Francis criticises European leaders for Hitler-style populism

Pope Francis has criticised European leaders for endorsing Hitler-style populism. 

The leader of the Catholic world, who sits as Archbishop of Rome, made the comments in his first-ever interview with an English language publication. 

The 83-year-old criticised the "selective memory" of people regarding climate change and natural disasters and condemned current political leaders whose rhetoric, he said, is "not so different" from that of Adolf Hitler.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Tablet as Christians around the world prepare to mark Holy Week in the lead up to Easter this weekend, the Pontiff said: "At this time in Europe, when we are beginning to hear populist speeches and witness political decisions of this selective kind, it's all too easy to remember Hitler's speeches in 1933, which were not so different from some of the speeches of a few European politicians now."

Pope Francis' comments echo similar remarks he has made throughout his papacy, in which he has condemned populism and xenophobia and likened populist politicians to Hitler.

Speaking to media on board the papal plane as he returned from a trip to Madagascar, Mauritius and Mozambique in September, the Pope said he had been unfairly labelled "a Communist" by critics, with the most vocal being conservative Catholics in the United States. 

"Sometimes, in some places, I hear speeches being given that sound similar to those made by Hitler in 1934. It's as if they want to return to the past in Europe," he said, adding that xenophobia is "a human disease, like measles."