The Italian Catholic Church today censured the leader of the nationalist League party, Matteo Salvini, for using the word ‘credo’ on posters for the September 25 legislative elections.

Salvini, a “divorced Catholic” who has already waved the rosary in previous campaigns, justified the use of the word with “secular faith”.

Cited in the episcopal newspaper Avvenire, theologian Giuseppe Lorizio, from the Pontifical Lateran University, pointed out that “it is easy to say ‘creed’, but not without consequences”.

“To avoid all populist impulses, it will be good to try to distinguish the various meanings of the word ‘creed’ when we read it on the facades of our cities,” he said.

When used by Catholics, the word ‘creed’ translates the affirmation of belief in God.

The polls for Italy’s general elections, called after the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi on July 21, are led by a right-wing alliance, led by the leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, Giorgia Meloni. , with Salvini’s League, and with the center-right Forza Italia (FI) party of former prime minister and media mogul Silvio Berlusconi.

Polls indicate that this alliance is expected to obtain more than 45% of the votes and win with a clear majority in the Italian Lower House and Senate.

This result would likely propel 45-year-old Giorgia Meloni into Italy’s leadership, as the FdI has around 24% of voting intentions, the League with 12.5% ​​and the FI with 8%.

The centre-left Democratic Party (PD) is leading a coalition made up of the Italian Left party (SI), the ecologist Europa Verde (EV) and the Mais Europa (+E) party.

Source: With Agencies