Pope Mentions American Democracy and Alexis de Tocqueville in 2010 Speech to Curia

Alexis de Tocqueville, in his day, observed that democracy in America had become possible and had worked because there existed a fundamental moral consensus which, transcending individual denominations, united everyone. Only if there is such a consensus on the essentials can constitutions and law function. This fundamental consensus derived from the Christian heritage is at risk wherever its place, the place of moral reasoning, is taken by … purely instrumental rationality…. In reality, this makes reason blind to what is essential. To resist this eclipse of reason and to preserve its capacity for seeing the essential, for seeing God and man, for seeing what is good and what is true, is the common interest that must unite all people of good will. The very future of the world is at stake.

Just struck how often Pope Benedict talks Alexis de Tocqueville
Thank to Quote Catholic and Pope Benedict XVI on the Sun Setting over the Entire World . which quotes the end 2010 end of year speech to the Roman Curia.