Discussion Paper No. 23 / Juli 2007
Der Heilige Stuhl und die Demokratie

Ralph Rotte

Abstract

During the 19th and 20th centuries the Holy See and the Roman Catholic Church have gradually developed a positive approach to the idea of democracy as an optimal way of human political organization. This paper gives an overview of the theological and theoretical problems and changes of view that have led to the Holy See's current support for democracy. A special focus is put on the ambivalent relationship between intra-church and general political perspectives in the Holy See's world view and the limits of liberal democracy according to catholicism.