By Joshua McElwee ANNABA, Algeria, April 14 (Reuters) - Pope Leo warned of the risk of democracies sliding into "majoritarian tyranny" on Tuesday, in a letter issued by the Vatican two days after U.S.
Pope Leo Warns of Democracy Risks After Trump’s Criticism in Vatican Letter
Pope Leo’s Letter and the Debate Over Democracy
By Joshua McElwee
Context of the Vatican Letter
ANNABA, Algeria, April 14 (Reuters) - Pope Leo warned of the risk of democracies sliding into "majoritarian tyranny" on Tuesday, in a letter issued by the Vatican two days after U.S. President Donald Trump attacked the pontiff on social media.
Message to Democratic Societies
The first U.S. pope, writing to participants of a Vatican meeting about the use of power in democratic societies, said democracies remained healthy only when they were rooted in moral values.
Warning Against Majoritarian Tyranny
"Lacking this foundation, (democracy) risks becoming either a majoritarian tyranny or a mask for the dominance of economic and technological elites," said Leo in the letter.
The text, released as the pope was undertaking an ambitious, 10-day tour of four African countries, did not directly address the U.S. or name any specific democracies.
Trump’s Response and Ongoing Tensions
Trump sharply criticized Leo as "terrible" on Sunday night, after the pope had emerged in recent weeks as a growing critic of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Pope Leo’s Continued Criticism
Leo told Reuters on Monday that he planned to keep criticizing the war, despite Trump's comments.
Church Teachings on Power and Authority
In Tuesday's letter, the pope said the Catholic Church taught that power could not be seen as an end in itself "but as a means ordered toward the common good".
Virtue and Legitimacy in Leadership
"This implies that the legitimacy of authority depends not on the accumulation of economic or technological strength, but on the wisdom and virtue with which it is exercised," said Leo.
Call for Temperance Among Leaders
The pope also urged leaders in democratic societies to avoid any temptation to hoard power.
"Temperance ... proves essential for the legitimate use of authority, for true temperance restrains inordinate self-exaltation and acts as a guardrail against the abuse of power," he said.
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Alex Richardson)
