Midterm Elections November 2026

Dear Friends and Readers,

I offer this essay, Pope Leo on Safeguarding Democracy, for your consideration as we approach the midterm election November 3.

Fr. Jim Bacik

In his long (42,300 word) encyclical (official teaching) Magnificent Humanity: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence, Pope Leo XIV, born and raised on the south side of Chicago (so a White Sox fan), provides a valuable reflection on truth and democracy (n 132ff).

Leo the 267^th successor of Peter points out that digital platforms are being used to construct distorted narratives that blur the boundaries between truth and falsehood and mix facts with opinions. He notes that this threat cannot be avoided by some authority dictating what is true and false. The truth of facts requires verification, cross-checking of sources and responsible argumentation. It is built on bonds of trust, shared practices, and honest exchange with others. In this regard, the pope identifies a “fundamental sickness” that “modern man is wrongly convinced that he is the sole author of himself, his life and society.“ As a consequence people no longer recognize universally valid truths, which precede us, and which conscience must accept.

Pope Leo, who earned a degree in math and science from Villanova University, goes on to say “the search for truth is an essential element of democracy, which is itself a means of contributing to the common good. Democracy does not consist of rules and procedures alone, but above all a solid concordance with the facts and a genuine commitment to the good of individuals and society as a whole. Leo references the Jewish philosopher Hannah Arendt who argued that authoritarianism thrives when the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false no longer exists. The Augustinian pontiff goes on to argue that truth is a common good and not the property of those with power or influence. We should neither demonize nor idolize AI, but should insist on transparency in its operation. To preserve truth Leo argues that we need strong associations, serious journalism, and open forums for debate where reasoned argumentation and verification can pursue the truth as a common good.

Christian communities are also called to transparency and the pursuit of truth. Leo, who ministered for 20 years in Peru, admits the church has not always lived up to this ideal and he thanks journalists for prompting the church to hear the voices of the victims of sex abuse (n 138). In summary,  Pope Leo, a canon lawyer, puts the emphasis on the respect for truth that is crucial for a healthy democracy and the great danger of “alternate facts“ that pave the way for authoritarianism.

In an April 14, 2026, address to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, Pope Leo, a linguist who speaks five languages, insisted that democracy is one of the highest expressions of legitimate power. It is not a mere procedure, but is based on the dignity of every person and calls each citizen to participate responsibly in the pursuit of the common good.  With reference to Paul John Paul II, Leo affirms that the church values democracy because it ensures participation in political choices and the possibility both of electing and holding accountable those who govern them and replacing them by peaceful means when appropriate. Democracy remains healthy, only when rooted in the moral law and a true vision of the human person. Without this moral vision society is at risk of either majoritarian tyranny or the dominance of economic and technological elites.

As we approach the midterm elections on November 3 Pope Leo’s analysis of democracy and truth reminds us of our moral responsibility to vote and to do so prudently. The stakes are high and the Catholic vote is crucial. Ever since 78% of Catholics voted for John Kennedy in 1960, Catholics have almost always supported the winner in the presidential elections. In 2020 the majority of Catholics voted for Biden and in 2024 for Trump while Evangelicals and Jews did not vary their vote. The media and partisan strategists have paid little attention to the Catholic vote. An exception was President Obama who consulted regularly with a group of Catholic advisors including Rick Gaillardetz, a great theologian and good friend now deceased. It is reasonable to expect the Catholic vote will be crucial in the midterm elections.

The first American pope encourages all of his fellow citizens to participate in the political process by registering to vote, working to increase voter turnout and casting a ballot in this historic midterm election.