VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis decried the state of democracy and warned against `populists` during a short visit to Trieste in Italy`s northeast on Sunday ahead of a12-day trip to Asia the longest of his papacy.

`Democracy is not in good health in the world today,` Pope Francis said during a speech at the city`s convention centre to close a national Catholic event.

Without naming any countries, the popewarned against `ideological temptations and populists` on the day that France holds the second round of a snap parliamentary vote that looks set to see the far-right National Rally (RN) party take the largest share of the vote.

`Ideologies are seductive. Some people compare them to the Pied Piper of Hamelin: they seduce but lead you to deny yourself,` he said in reference to the German fairytale.-AFP