« DIUTURNUM ILLUD ». - Encyclical of Leone XIII, 29 June 1881 (Acta Leonis XIII, 2 [1882], pp. 269-87), concerning the correct concept of political power and civil authority, distorted or destroyed by the erroneous doctrines propagated by the Reformation and degenerating into theories and systems that spell the death of civil society.
According to the doctrine of the Church, authority comes from God, whatever the form of government, even if its holder is designated by the people. Hence authority possesses a higher dignity and the duty to govern according to justice; and subjects have the obligation of respect and obedience. For the latter, fear and punishment are not sufficient incentives; a more inward and clear consciousness of duty and the salutary impulse of the fear of God are required. All this can be most effectively attained through religion; hence the necessity of leaving the Church full freedom to instruct and to act upon civil society; all the more so because, by word and example, she has always shown herself a friend of honest liberty and an enemy of every tyranny.