What Makes St. John Paul the Great's \u201cCentesimus Annus\u201d <\/span>So Important?<\/span><\/h1>\n <\/p>\n
by CAPP-USA<\/span><\/h5>\nHere are five reasons.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nFIRST:<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nCentesimus Annus<\/a>\u00a0succeeds in drawing together the most creative and effective parts of Catholic Social Teaching over the prior hundred years.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIt is more than a summary however; it synthesizes the best of what\u2019s come before<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nIt keeps and builds upon long-standing Catholic Social Teaching, while also returning to Pope Leo XIII's original and penetrating contribution regarding the importance of the person at the heart of the social order.<\/span><\/p>\n\nCentesimus Annus is extraordinary in the way it reconfigures the basic framework of Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n![\"Pope](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Pope-St.-John-Paul-II-signing-the-Centesimus-Annus-encyclical.jpg\")
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Pope St. John Paul II signing the landmark encyclical, Centesimus Annus<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
SECOND:<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nSaint John Paul the Great did more than recapitulate and synthesize the teachings of his predecessors - he broke new ground. <\/span><\/p>\nHow? <\/span>Well, for one, Centesimus Annus affirms the value of the free market and of democracy<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nIn essence, the Holy Father tells us that the economy should rely first on individual initiative and free markets. <\/span><\/p>\nOnly when basic human needs cannot be met through individual enterprise aided by private associations should the state provide for them.<\/span><\/p>\nSimilarly, in the political realm, the preferred structure is the one that best fosters the participation by - and exercise of - the judgments of individual citizens, i.e. democracy.<\/span><\/p>\nTHIRD:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nCentesimus Annus introduces another innovation\u2013 something that George Weigel, noted biographer of the Saint, calls \u201can empirical sensitivity to issues of economic development\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\nIndeed, Centesimus Annus demonstrates the greatest depth of economic understanding of any magisterial document and also displays a modern appreciation for the dynamic nature of free exchange as well as the way wealth is produced.<\/span><\/p>\nIn its breadth and depth, Centesimus Annus has been called \u201ca completely new synthesis previously unseen in any other single work of religious reflection on the economy\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\nFOURTH:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nCentesimus Annus<\/span> is extraordinary in the way it reconfigures the basic framework of Catholic social teaching.<\/p>\nIt establishes the need to maintain vibrant and critical interaction between economics, culture, and politics, emphasizing that of these three, culture is the most important<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nPrior<\/strong> to Centesimus Annus, Catholic social teaching focused mainly upon on economics and politics<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nFIFTH:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nPope St. John Paul II for the first time, included family and life issues on the list of \u2018social\u2019 concerns<\/strong>. These issues previously had been somewhat quarantined from Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/p>\nThe implications for their integration here were potentially huge, BUT were not entirely sorted out.<\/span><\/p>\nThe family and life issues have since been corrected and updated by his successors - most notably by Pope Benedict XVI's Caritas in Veritate wherein the Church makes clear that there can be no separation of the issues of life and social justice:<\/span><\/p>\n\"...respect for life\u2026cannot in any way be detached from questions concerning the development of peoples\u2026Openness to life is at the center of true development. When a society moves toward the denial or suppression of life, it ends up no longer finding the necessary motivation and energy to strive for man\u2019s true good.\u201d Caritas in Veritate, 28<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nMany are calling this Pope Benedict XVI\u2019s unique contribution to Catholic social teaching\u2014pointing out that a primary task of working for social justice includes promoting a culture of life.<\/span><\/p>\nA Rerum Novarum Summary<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThe Role of Laity According to Vatican II Pt. 1<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThe Role of Laity According to Vatican II Pt. 2<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPope Benedict XVI: A Caritas in Veritate Overview<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nA Summary of Caritas in Veritate Part 1<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nA Summary of Caritas in Veritate Part 2<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nA Summary of Caritas in Veritate Part 3<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nA Summary of Caritas in Veritate Part 4<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nA Summary of Caritas in Veritate Part 5<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nA Laudato Si Summary<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nA Dilexi Te Summary<\/a><\/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\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMagisterial Documents<\/a>\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\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBack to Articles<\/a>\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>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\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\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Three](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Three-Principles.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThree Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-Dignity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Dignity<\/a><\/h2>This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Solidarity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSolidarity<\/a><\/h2>Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Subsidiarity.png\")
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Here are five reasons.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Centesimus Annus<\/a>\u00a0succeeds in drawing together the most creative and effective parts of Catholic Social Teaching over the prior hundred years.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It is more than a summary however; it synthesizes the best of what\u2019s come before<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n It keeps and builds upon long-standing Catholic Social Teaching, while also returning to Pope Leo XIII's original and penetrating contribution regarding the importance of the person at the heart of the social order.<\/span><\/p>\n Centesimus Annus is extraordinary in the way it reconfigures the basic framework of Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Pope St. John Paul II signing the landmark encyclical, Centesimus Annus<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Saint John Paul the Great did more than recapitulate and synthesize the teachings of his predecessors - he broke new ground. <\/span><\/p>\n How? <\/span>Well, for one, Centesimus Annus affirms the value of the free market and of democracy<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n In essence, the Holy Father tells us that the economy should rely first on individual initiative and free markets. <\/span><\/p>\n Only when basic human needs cannot be met through individual enterprise aided by private associations should the state provide for them.<\/span><\/p>\n Similarly, in the political realm, the preferred structure is the one that best fosters the participation by - and exercise of - the judgments of individual citizens, i.e. democracy.<\/span><\/p>\n Centesimus Annus introduces another innovation\u2013 something that George Weigel, noted biographer of the Saint, calls \u201can empirical sensitivity to issues of economic development\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n Indeed, Centesimus Annus demonstrates the greatest depth of economic understanding of any magisterial document and also displays a modern appreciation for the dynamic nature of free exchange as well as the way wealth is produced.<\/span><\/p>\n In its breadth and depth, Centesimus Annus has been called \u201ca completely new synthesis previously unseen in any other single work of religious reflection on the economy\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n Centesimus Annus<\/span> is extraordinary in the way it reconfigures the basic framework of Catholic social teaching.<\/p>\n It establishes the need to maintain vibrant and critical interaction between economics, culture, and politics, emphasizing that of these three, culture is the most important<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n Prior<\/strong> to Centesimus Annus, Catholic social teaching focused mainly upon on economics and politics<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n Pope St. John Paul II for the first time, included family and life issues on the list of \u2018social\u2019 concerns<\/strong>. These issues previously had been somewhat quarantined from Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n The implications for their integration here were potentially huge, BUT were not entirely sorted out.<\/span><\/p>\n The family and life issues have since been corrected and updated by his successors - most notably by Pope Benedict XVI's Caritas in Veritate wherein the Church makes clear that there can be no separation of the issues of life and social justice:<\/span><\/p>\n \"...respect for life\u2026cannot in any way be detached from questions concerning the development of peoples\u2026Openness to life is at the center of true development. When a society moves toward the denial or suppression of life, it ends up no longer finding the necessary motivation and energy to strive for man\u2019s true good.\u201d Caritas in Veritate, 28<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Many are calling this Pope Benedict XVI\u2019s unique contribution to Catholic social teaching\u2014pointing out that a primary task of working for social justice includes promoting a culture of life.<\/span><\/p>\n A Rerum Novarum Summary<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The Role of Laity According to Vatican II Pt. 1<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The Role of Laity According to Vatican II Pt. 2<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Pope Benedict XVI: A Caritas in Veritate Overview<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n A Summary of Caritas in Veritate Part 1<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n A Summary of Caritas in Veritate Part 2<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n A Summary of Caritas in Veritate Part 3<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n A Summary of Caritas in Veritate Part 4<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n A Summary of Caritas in Veritate Part 5<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n A Laudato Si Summary<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n A Dilexi Te Summary<\/a><\/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> Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\tFIRST:<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nSECOND:<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
THIRD:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
FOURTH:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
FIFTH:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThree Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Dignity<\/a><\/h2>
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSolidarity<\/a><\/h2>
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