Pope Leo has warned that democracy could drift into “majoritarian tyranny” if it is not rooted in moral values.
He made the statement in a Vatican letter released on Tuesday, days after US President Donald Trump criticised him on social media.
The first US-born pope was writing to a Vatican meeting on political power in democratic systems. He said democracy must be guided by ethics and human dignity, not numbers alone.
“Democracy remains healthy, however, only when rooted in the moral law and a true vision of the human person,” Leo wrote. “Lacking this foundation, it risks becoming either a majoritarian tyranny or a mask for the dominance of economic and technological elites.”
He added that citizens must take part in democracy in a responsible way focused on the common good.
“Democracy recognizes the dignity of every person and calls each citizen to participate responsibly in the pursuit of the common good,” he said.
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The Vatican said the letter was sent to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and did not mention any country or leader.
However, it comes amid rising tension between the pope and Trump, who recently called Leo “terrible” on social media after the pontiff criticised US policy on the Iran conflict.
Leo has told Reuters he will continue speaking out despite political pressure.
He also stressed that political power must be used as service, not control.
“Legitimacy of authority depends not on the accumulation of economic or technological strength, but on the wisdom and virtue with which it is exercised,” he said.