Become a Member of CAPP!<\/h1>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n Learn about CAPP-USA, the United States affiliate of\u00a0Fondazione Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice<\/a>, a Vatican-based foundation established by Pope St. John Paul II in 1993. Operating under the authority of the Holy See, our mission is to promote the knowledge and practice of Catholic Social Teaching and help people of good will apply the Church\u2019s authentic social doctrine to the challenges of modern life.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Address Key Social Issues<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \u201cWe Must Participate in Politics\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Pope Francis<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Private Audiences with the Holy Father<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Message to the Members of the \u201cCentesimus Annus Pro Pontifice\u201d Foundation\u200b<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \"[T]he Church in America<\/strong>...is faced with the challenge of recapturing the Catholic vision of reality<\/strong> and presenting it, in an engaging and imaginative way.\" (Pope Benedict XVI, 1)<\/a><\/span> CAPP is an important way to meet that challenge. And \u201cBy living this new life\u201d we will not only be \"interiorly transformed, but we also change the world around us.\" (General Audience, April 27, 2011)<\/a><\/p>\n As Pope Francis told us: \u201c[B]y sharing your own knowledge and expertise, and by making known the richness of the Church\u2019s social doctrine, you seek to form the consciences of leaders in the political, social and economic sectors. I encourage you to persevere<\/strong> in these efforts.\" <\/span>(Address to CAPP, May 26, 2018)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \"[T]he Church in America<\/strong>...is faced with the challenge of recapturing the Catholic vision of reality<\/strong> and presenting it, in an engaging and imaginative way.\" (Pope Benedict XVI, 1)<\/a><\/span> CAPP is an important way to meet that challenge. And \u201cBy living this new life\u201d we will not only be \"interiorly transformed, but we also change the world around us.\" (General Audience, April 27, 2011)<\/a><\/p>\n As Pope Francis told us: \u201c[B]y sharing your own knowledge and expertise, and by making known the richness of the Church\u2019s social doctrine, you seek to form the consciences of leaders in the political, social and economic sectors. I encourage you to persevere<\/strong> in these efforts.\" <\/span>(Address to CAPP, May 26, 2018)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> It is our job!<\/strong> It is our special task to order and throw light upon all the affairs of the world in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ. This is OUR unique and special mission. (Gaudium\u00a0et\u00a0Spes, Chapter IV)<\/em><\/a> As Pope Francis said: \u201cWorking for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy. It is a moral obligation. For Christians, the responsibility is even greater: it is a commandment.\u201d (Second World Meeting of Popular Movements, 3.1)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Catholic social teaching is a key element that characterizes our spirituality<\/strong> - it is a path towards God. As Pope St. John Paul II said to members: \"It will be crucial to understand the social doctrine as an element that characterizes the spirituality of the lay faithful\". (Address to CAPP, December 4, 2004)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Religious and lay organizations take on the charism of their founder. Our founder is<\/strong> a successor of St. Peter; he sat on his chair and is a saint<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Our mission comes directly from the Vicar of Christ who invited us to join, personally, in our Church's efforts to evangelize the world with her social doctrine.<\/p>\n CAPP is unique in the 2,000-year history of the Church as a lay led organization with canonical standing in the Church and juridical standing in Vatican State.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Religious and lay organizations take on the charism of their founder. Our founder is<\/strong> a successor of St. Peter; he sat on his chair and is a saint<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Our mission comes directly from the Vicar of Christ who invited us to join, personally, in our Church's efforts to evangelize the world with her social doctrine.<\/p>\n CAPP is unique in the 2,000-year history of the Church as a lay led organization with canonical standing in the Church and juridical standing in Vatican State.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Our Church says we must \"engage in dialogue<\/strong>\u2026not remaining confined to our communities and our institutions but accepting the challenge to take part in these\u2026so as to speak and bear witness in [sic] these sectors, from the inside.\" (Synod of Bishops XIII Ordinary General Assembly, 7)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Four months before his death<\/strong> Pope St. John Paul II told us: \"I therefore urge the Members to spare no effort to ensure that the Foundation seeks to pursue these goals\". (Address to CAPP, December 4, 2004)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Our purpose is to have Catholic social teaching implemented in society\u00a0through lay Catholic business, academic and professional leaders; to\u00a0order\u00a0and\u00a0throw light<\/b> upon all the<\/strong> affairs of the world<\/b> in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ, especially as contained in the Church\u2019s social doctrine.<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n As Pope St. John Paul II said: \"As far as the Church is concerned,\u00a0<\/span>the social message of the Gospel<\/b> must not be considered a theory<\/strong>, but above all a<\/span>\u00a0basis\u00a0and a motivation for action\" (Centesimus Annus, 57)<\/a>. More specifically, about CAPP at our founding, he said: \"Centesimus Annus \u2013 Pro Pontifice [is] a\u00a0significant expression\u00a0of your involvement as\u00a0lay faithful\"\u00a0(Address to FCAPP, June 5, 1993)<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Our mission\u00a0is to evangelize<\/strong> lay leaders<\/strong> \u2013 to help form their consciences on the principles of Catholic Social Doctrine and support their initiatives to implement it in the various sectors of society.<\/p>\n We take our inspiration here from Pope St. John Paul II\u2019s admonition that: \"[T]he\u00a0<\/span>pastoral care for the leading sectors of society has been neglected and many people have thus been estranged from the Church\u2026the spread of\u00a0secularism\u00a0in these sectors \u2014 political or economic, union-related, military, social or cultural \u2014 shows how urgent it is that they be evangelized\u2026insisting especially on the formation of consciences on the basis of the Church\u2019s social doctrine\u2026Conversely, if this evangelization of the leadership sector is\u00a0neglected, it should not come as a surprise that many who are a part of it will be guided by criteria\u00a0alien to the Gospel\u00a0and at times\u00a0openly contrary\u00a0to it.\"<\/span>\u00a0(Ecclesia America, 67)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Our challenge is to develop a strong, committed group of Catholic lay leaders<\/strong>, rich in faith and theologically prepared to be present in public life\u00a0to explain, develop and\u00a0implement Catholic social teaching\u00a0in our challenging world so as we may become a\u00a0deep and credible voice\u00a0in the public square.<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n This role is\u00a0<\/span>endorsed by Pope Francis\u00a0who told us on June 8, 2019, it is\u00a0our job \"to bring about a\u00a0deep transformation\u00a0at\u00a0all levels\u00a0of our contemporary societies: individuals, corporations, institutions and politics<\/i>.\"<\/span> (Address to CAPP Members<\/span>)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>Purpose<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Pope St. John Paul II established CAPP --
\u201cto promote and defend the knowledge and the practice of the Church\u2019s social doctrine.<\/strong>\u201d<\/h5>\nApply!<\/span><\/h4>\n
Download the application form, and please submit the completed form, a resume and a letter of endorsement from your pastor to ffakharzadeh@capp-usa.org.<\/span><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
4 Reasons to Be a CAPP Member<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
We are Building a Movement<\/h4>\n
![\"Pope](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Pope-Leo-XIV-greets-members-of-the-Centesimus-Annus-Pro-Pontifice-Foundation.jpg\" "\\"Pope")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>We are Building a Movement<\/h4>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Pope-Benedict-XVI-and-CAPP-members-at-the-2006-FCAPP-Conference-in-Rome.jpg\" "\\"Pope")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Our Unique & Special Mission<\/span><\/h4>\n
Our Founder is a Saint!<\/span><\/h4>\n
![\"CAPP](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/johnpaulii-cropped.jpg\" "\\"johnpaulii-cropped\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Our Founder is a Saint!<\/span><\/h4>\n
![\"Francis](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Pope_Francis_grid-crop.jpg\" "\\"Pope_Francis_grid-crop\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>We Take the Call Seriously<\/h4>\n
Apply!<\/span><\/h4>\n
Download the application form, and please submit the completed form, a resume and a letter of endorsement from your pastor to ffakharzadeh@capp-usa.org.<\/span><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Mission and Challenge<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Our Purpose<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
![\"Pope](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Pope-John-Paul-II-addresses-CAPP-in-1993-at-the-Vatican.png\" "\\"Pope")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Our Mission<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
![\"Lay](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Lay-Catholic-leaders-gather-for-a-CAPP-event-at-Fordham-University.jpg\" "\\"Lay")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Our Challenge<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
![\"Pope](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Pope-Leo-XIV-greets-CAPP-members_00142_17052025.jpg\" "\\"Pope")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>![\"CAPP](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/conference-vatican-capp-centesimus-annus-leaders-panel-catholic-catholic-social-teaching.jpg\" "\\"conference-vatican-capp-centesimus")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>