Traditionally, the President of the United States is accorded the title of "Leader of the Free World." Lately, however, the title has been up for grabs. This is not due to any world or government leader seeking the accolade, but rather President Trump relinquishing it.
But freedom needs leadership and not a few around the globe are now looking elsewhere for that spark of inspiration, that sense of the flame of freedom being in the hands of a champion of democracy and generally accepted norms of bahavior.
Does the leader of the free world have to be powerful in the sense of having military strength alone? No. Moral leadership is ultimately worth as much as military power, this assuming that war is not the defining act of the moment.
Consider these words recently spoken to the United Nations General Assembly.
"The United Nations is entering its ninth decade at a moment of great uncertainty and challenge for the global community. Conflicts are having devastating effects on the most vulnerable.
"The impacts of the climate crisis are felt in every corner of our world. Hard won rights are being rolled back.
"Narrow self-interest is breaking the bonds of solidarity which have so often lifted us to meaningful progress. The international legal order is under tremendous strain. New and emerging technologies that offer unlimited potential could also, without human intervention, create unprecedented dangers.
"In such moments of uncertainty, it can be easy to question our foundations. To retreat. To turn inward.
"To say that international cooperation is too difficult, that multilateralism does not work, that the problems of others are not our problems. But that would be the wrong conclusion.
"Because the answer to a world under strain is not less international cooperation. It is more.
"The answer to the weakening of principles is not to abandon them. It is to defend them.
"And if our multilateral system is not working effectively, the answer is not to walk away from it. It is to make it stronger, fairer and fit for the world we live in."
These were the words of Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Martin is not being hailed as the leader of the free world. But as much as a person can be a leader, so can words. Lincoln was a leader in war, but he led in large part with words, the Gettysburg Address being a case in point.
Others around the world have been leading with words. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is one. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is another, and for sure Pope Leo is also to be counted.
Nevertheless, the global picture is becoming less clear by the day.
Back in the days of the Cold War it was relatively easy to distinguish free from oppressed. We can still distinguish one from the other. But where do we look for leadership for the former?
