Pope Francis urged Europeans to see children as a valuable gift.

Speaking at “The General State of the Birth Rate” event in Rome on Friday, he said the very low number of births and the appalling numbers of the pandemic call for change and responsibility. The birth rate in all European countries, including Italy is well below replacement level.

He encouraged people to instill in the young a desire to pursue their dreams, to sacrifice themselves for others, and to do good in the world.

Sometimes, he said, the message that is transmitted is that “fulfillment means making money and success, while children seem almost a diversion, which must not hinder their personal aspirations.”

“This mentality is gangrene for society and makes the future unsustainable,” he underlined.

The live-streamed event included presentations from company executives, journalists, actors, athletes, and Italian political leaders, including Prime Minister Mario Draghi, reflecting on the problem of Italy’s birth rate, which is one of the lowest in Europe at 1.24.

In his address, Pope Francis said that “if families are not at the center of the present, there will be no future; but if families restart, everything restarts.”