In the humanist key ended the pontificate of John Paul II and now we collect its fruits. The new Pope of the Catholic Church, Benedict XVI, is neither conservative nor liberal because this sociological-political terminology does not agree with the being of the Church. It is a radical Pope because it sinks its roots in the same cross of Christ. We all pray that he may be another great shepherd who will surrender to the service of all his baptized children and all the men who await his merciful love, in the key of integral and solidarity humanism. 

I have in my hands one of the legacies of Pope John Paul II to the whole world, especially the laic Catholics: The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church that was published last year in Italian. I look forward and urgently to the Castilian edition that will have to arrive soon to our country. The 526-page text is the result of more than a five years’ work of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. It was initiated by the Vietnamese cardinal Francois-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan and was concluded, after his death, under the direction of cardinal Martino, precisely on April 2, 2004.

The Compendium is dedicated to John Paul II, Master of Social Doctrine, evangelical testimony of justice and peace. A letter from Cardinal Angelo Cardano, Secretary of State, dated June 29, 2004 opens the text. They are words of gratitude that illuminate their reason to be: “With this light, the human person has been invited to discover their transcendence in all dimensions of their lives, including all social, economic and political contexts. Faith brings to the full the meaning of the family, founded on marriage between a man and a woman, constitutes the first vital cell of society; it also illuminates the dignity of work which, as an activity destined to the realization of the human person, takes precedence over capital and constitutes the title of participation of the fruits derived therefrom. (the translation is mine) 

Transforming social realities with the power of the Gospel is the great challenge of all evangelization, but especially in this beginning of the third millennium and the pontificate of Benedict XVI, in many places, adverse to the good news of salvation, of love, of Justice and peace. 

Men and women, full of the true love of God, with the enlightenment of the social doctrine of the Church, will be able to change the rules and the qualities of human relations and also the social structures: people capable of carrying peace where there are conflicts, of to build and cultivate fraternal relationships where there is hatred, to bring justice where the person is subjugated by others. True love has before it a great task to which the new Pontiff and the whole Church want to contribute also with their social doctrine, which encompasses all man and addresses all men without exception. 

The poor training of Catholic professionals in social doctrine is one of the causes of the Western cultural crisis, and their teaching and dissemination are part of the mission that John Paul II entrusted to the Church from which every baptized must be living stone. Benedict XVI, without any doubt, will have in this compendium an ally to facilitate the emergence of this integral and solidarity humanism that God, rich in mercy, wants to give to the world. 

We intend to serve as loudspeakers to this great work that we will soon be able to enjoy among us, as light and guide. But until then we want to share with readers to read “between lines” some texts of the presentation made by cardinal Martino of this unique work of the Pontifical Council Justice and Peace. 

 

COMPENDIUM OF THE SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH 

Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace 

Vatican Editrice Bookshop 

 

GENERAL INDEX

Introduction 

AN INTEGRAL HUMANISM AND SOLIDARITY

 

First part 

Chapter One 

THE DESING OF GOD´S LOVE FOR HUMANITY

I. The liberating action of God in the History of Israel 

II. Jesus Christ: Fulfillment of the design of the love of the Father 

III. The human person and the design of God's love 

IV. Design of God and Mission of the Church 

 

Chapter II 

MISSION OF THE CHURCH AND SOCIAL DOCTRINE

I. Evangelization and Social Doctrine 

II. The nature of Social doctrine 

III. Social Doctrine in our time: historical 

 

Chapter III 

THE HUMAN PER SON AND HIS 

I. Social Doctrine and Personalist Principle 

II. The Human Person: image of God 

III. The Human Person and their Profiles 

IV. Human Rights 

 

Chapter IV 

THE PRINCIPLES OF THE SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH 

I. Meaning and Unity 

II. The Principle of Common Good 

III. The universal destiny of goods 

IV. The Principle of Subsidiarity 

V. The Participation 

VI. The Principle of Solidarity 

VII. The Fundamental Values of Social Life 

VIII. The way of charity 

 

Second part 

Chapter Five 

THE FAMILY, VITAL CELL OF SOCIETY 

I. The Family First Natural society 

II. Marriage, the foundation of the Family 

III. Social subjectivity of the Family 

IV. The Family as the protagonist of Social Life 

V. Society at the service of the Family 

 

Chapter Six 

HUMAN WORK

I. Biblical Aspects 

II. The prophetic value of “Rerum Novarum” 

III. The dignity of work 

IV. The right to work 

V. Rights of workers 

VI. Solidarity among workers 

VII. “New Things” in the world of work