Archbishop takes aim at populist political leaders

THE Archbishop of Canterbury has used his Christmas Day sermon to reflect on the deceitfulness of populist leaders and a year of terrorist atrocities.

The Most Rev Justin Welby told the congregation at Canterbury Cathedral of the contrast between the humility of the Nativity story and many of the world’s leaders.

The Roman Catholic Church’s most senior cleric in England, the Archbishop of Westminster, used his own address to call on people to move away from “radical individualism” in society, which is demonstrated by conflict on social media. Cardinal Vincent Nichols told the BBC: “In social media there’s a barrage of views and once a statement or claim is made there’s immediately a counterclaim, and the mode of exchange is conflict.”

In remarks that are likely to be interpreted by some as a jibe at Donald Trump, the Archbishop of Canterbury made pointed comments about the weaknesses of current world leaders.

He told his congregation: “The nature of those who have power is to seek to hold on to it. In 2017 we have seen around the world tyrannical leaders that enslave their peoples, populist leaders that deceive them, corrupt leaders that rob them, even simply democratic, well-intentioned leaders of many parties and countries who are normal, fallible human beings.

“We have experienced across our country terrorism that kills the innocent, claiming that it is the path to freedom in God. The nature of God who has all power, and from whom all power comes, is to lay it aside for love’s sake and thus without fear, force or manipulation to offer true freedom for every human being.”

Archbishop Welby this year publicly spoke out against Mr Trump when the US president shared videos from farright group Britain First via Twitter.

Earlier the Archbishop had given his Christmas message a modern twist by publishing extracts in a Twitter thread, complete with a hashtag. Across the globe, the Pope put the migrant crisis at the heart of his festive reflections, saying that the story of the holy birth had particular relevance as millions of people were “driven from their land”.