“God, homeland, family” was the slogan of the Fratelli d’Italia party during the election campaign. “I am a woman, I am a mother, I am Italian, I am Christian. And no one can take this away from me!” said the leader, 45-year-old Roman Giorgia Meloni recently at a conference. Also on other occasions, she sounded a conservative, Europe-critical and even Christian voice. It is now known that Fratelli d’Italia convincingly won the elections last September 25 and that Meloni will become Italy’s first female prime minister.
By: Werner de Jonge
These are special times. While the entire Western world seems to be heading for a ‘progressive’ but virtually godless, totalitarian and technology-driven system of government, there are some leaders who dare to stick their necks out. They stand for other, more traditional values – and they are currently receiving support from a growing number of European voters. In some countries, people have recently voted in favor of new, conservative governments – often labeled by the media as “radical right”.
The people in Hungary, in Poland and now also in Italy do not want far-reaching interference from the government in personal liberties. They also do not want to compromise traditional values, such as those of the family. Freedom of religion, a healthy view of gender, the right to the life of the unborn child: these are ‘sacred’ matters and a return to Christian roots seems desirable. A new, ‘right-wing’ government has also been elected in Sweden since last month, which, among other things, puts the sovereignty of the nation above European interests.
Turnaround
As a child of missionaries, I partly grew up in Italy. That was wonderful, but now I have come to see la bella Italia as a country in need, where many spiritual strongholds obstruct the way for God’s blessing and where personal faith is very far away for many people. It touches me personally when I hear Meloni shout: “We defend the value of the individual! Because every person has their own, non-repeatable genetic code. That makes us unique people. And like it or not, this is sacred. That’s why we defend this. And we defend God, our homeland and the family.”
The outcome of the elections could well turn Italy’s course. I pray that the outcome may have not only a new government, but also a spiritual effect, that it may trigger something—a return to the living God. And I pray for the new government, that they may receive wisdom and be protected by the Lord. I pray that they will be open to God’s Word and to spiritual direction from sincere Italian Christians. So that the mental state of the country will change. And who knows… this might also have an effect on other European countries?
