Papal Social

Encyclicals

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Papal Social Encyclicals

The Church has made moral judgments about

economic and social matters, "when the
fundamental rights of the person or the
salvation of souls requires it."
The Church struggled with the rise of the
modern industrial society with its new
structures for the production of consumer
goods, with its new concept of a just society,
with the rise of the secular state, and with the
modern world's new forms of labor and
ownership during the 19th century.

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Rerum Novarum (On the

Condition of Labor)
Literally "Of New Things," on capital and
labor and the condition of the working
class
Rerum Novarum broke down the barriers
that separated the church from the worker.
Rarely had the Church spoken on social
matters
in
such
an
official
and
comprehensive fashion
Magna Carta of workers

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Author: Pope Leo XIII

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Context: The First Industrial

Revolution, Magna Carta of Workers
Date of Publication: May 15, 1891

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Key Ideas:

The Church has a right and duty to comment on

economic, social and political issues.

Condemns socialism for abolishing private property and

condemns liberal capitalism for human exploitation

Affirms right to private property and emphasizes the

social obligations that accompany ownership

Optimistic View of Human Nature:

No class struggles
Believed employers would see their Christian duty to
pay just wages
Duty of wealthy to give to poor after needs taken
care of
The state has a duty to protect the poor and the
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Teachings:

Affirms the dignity of work, the right to

private property, the right to form and
join associations
Focuses on the condition of labor
Declares the moral principles that
should govern the rights of workers, the
right to private property, care for the
poor, duties of workers and employers,
the role of public authorities and the
return to Christian morality
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Quadragesimo Anno (On the

Reconstruction of the Social Order)
in response to the alarming
concentration of wealth and power in the
socioeconomic realism
The Pope calls for the re-establishment of a
social order based on the principle of
subsidiarity.
In commemorating the 40th anniversary of
Rerum Novarum, this encyclical reaffirms
the need for a social order founded on and
animated by justice and charity.

Written

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Author: Pope Pius XI

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Context: Great Depression

Date of Publication: May 15, 1931

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Teachings:
Reiterates the effect of greed and
concentrated economic power on working
people and society.
Maintains the demands of common good
and social justice
Obliges the whole society to work for an
equitable distribution of goods
Confirms the right and duty of the Catholic
Church to make its special contribution in
resolving the problems of society.

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Mater et Magistra (Christianity

and Social Progress)
It affirms the role of the Church as a
teacher distinguishing good and evil, and
as a nurturing mother to the poor and
oppressed.
The Pope calls for a greater awareness of
the need for all peoples to live as one
community with a common good.
Special attention is focused on the plight
of the farmers and farm workers in
depressed rural, agricultural economies.

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Author: Pope John XXIII

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Context: Economic growth &

advances in sciences
Date of Publication: May 15, 1961

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Key Ideas:
Greater

awareness that world is

structured

Increase

in social relationships

Observe,

Judge, Act

Universal

destiny of created goods

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Teachings:
Focuses the worlds attention to the
worldwide problem of the widening gap
between the rich and the poor, the arms
race and the plight of the farmers
The first official Church document that
systematically tackles the problem of
agriculture
The magna carta of agriculture
Emphasis on international justice

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