1. Dignity of the Human Person
[An authentic culture] will assure the centrality of the person, their inalienable rights and the sacredness of life. It is necessary to foster a culture of acceptance, respect and sharing, while remembering that humans “can fully discover” their true self only in a “sincere giving” of themselves (Gaudium et Spes), by committing their own freedom to the common good, beyond individual or group interests and far from the search for profit at all cost.
Pope John Paul II, Address to the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 2000
The goal of solidarity must be the advancement of a more human world for all – a world in which every individual will be able to participate in a positive and fruitful way, and in which the wealth of some will no longer be an obstacle to the development of others, but a help [to realize the inherent dignity of every human being.]
Pope John Paul II, Address to the First Globalization Conference, 2002
2. The Common Good
A “universal” vision of the common good demands this: we need to broaden our gaze to embrace the needs of the entire human family. The phenomenon of globalization itself calls for openness and sharing, if it is not to be a source of exclusion and marginalization, but rather a basis for solidarity and the sharing of all in the production and exchange of goods.
Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia in Europa, #101, 2003
3. Solidarity
Solidarity helps us to see the “other”--whether a person, people or nation--not just as some kind of instrument, with a work capacity and physical strength to be exploited at low cost and then discarded when no longer useful, but as our “neighbor,” a “helper” (cf. Gen 2:18-20), to be made a sharer, on a par with ourselves, in the banquet of life to which all are equally invited by God.
Pope John Paul II, Sollicitudo rei Socialis, #39, 1987
4. Option for the Poor
Social thinking and social practice inspired by the Gospel must always be marked by a special sensitivity towards those who are most in distress, those who are extremely poor, those suffering… from hunger, neglect, unemployment and despair. You will also want to seek out the structural reasons which foster or cause the different forms of poverty in the world and in your own country, so that you can apply the appropriate remedies.
Pope John Paul II, Address at Yankee Stadium, New York, 1979
5. Participation
This concerns the active and responsible participation of all in public life, from individual citizens to various groups, from labor unions to political parties. All of us, each and everyone, are the goal of public life as well as its leading participants. In this environment, as I wrote in the Encyclical Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, solidarity “is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good [through participation], to the good of all because we are all really responsible for all.
Pope John Paul II, Christi Fiedeles Laici, #42, 1988
6. Development for All
It is necessary to break down the barriers and monopolies which leave so many countries on the margins of development, and to provide all individuals and nations with the basic conditions which will enable them to share in development. This goal calls for programmed and responsible efforts on the part of the entire international community.
Pope John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, #35, 1991
7. Sharing of Earth’s Goods
God gave the earth to the whole human race for the sustenance of all its members, without excluding or favoring anyone. The right to the common use of goods is the first principle of the whole ethical and social order and the characteristic principle of Catholic social doctrine.
Pope John Paul II, from the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 2004
8. Right to Food
Every human being enjoys the inviolable right to food and a proper diet, and that it is consequently the duty of all men and women, especially those in responsible positions, to ensure that this right is respected. We should not only apply this principle to individuals but also to nations. When people can no longer satisfy their basic needs because of war, poverty, bad government or mismanagement, or even on account of natural disasters, others have the moral duty to intervene to help them.
Pope John Paul II, Address to the XXXI Conference of the UN FAO, 2001
9. Human Rights
Essential food, health care, education, and work are not just the goals of development but they are fundamental rights, which, unfortunately, are still denied to millions of human beings… Human rights and human development must walk hand in hand, but this calls for greater international collaboration in favor of the most disadvantaged peoples.
Pope John Paul II, Address to the United Nations
10. Catholic Social Teaching
It is not difficult to see that in the modern world the sense of justice has been reawakening on a vast scale; and without doubt this emphasizes that which goes against justice in relationships between individuals, social groups and “classes,” between individual peoples and states, and finally between whole political systems, indeed between what are called “worlds” . . . The Church shares with the people of our time this profound and ardent desire for a life which is just in every aspect, nor does she fail to examine the various aspects of the sort of justice that the life of people and society demands. This is confirmed by Catholic Social Teaching.
Pope John Paul II, Dives in Misericordia, #12
11. Peace
It is vital to choose peace and the means to obtain it. Peace, so frail in health, demands constant and intensive care. Along this path, we shall advance with sure and redoubled steps, for there is no doubt that people have and never had so many means for building true peace as today. Humanity has entered an era of increased solidarity and hunger for social justice. This is our opportunity. It is also our task, which prayer helps us to face.
Pope John Paul II Address, World Day of Prayer, #8, 1986
12. Hope
Based on the certainty that evil will not prevail, Christians nourish an invincible hope which sustains their efforts to promote justice and peace. Despite the personal and social sins which mark all human activity, hope constantly gives new impulse to the commitment to justice and peace, as well as firm confidence in the possibility of building a better world. Christians, especially the lay faithful, should not hide their hope, but rather express it through the structures of their secular lives in continual conversion No man or woman of good will can renounce the struggle to overcome evil with good. This fight can be fought effectively only with the weapons of love. When good overcomes evil, love prevails and where love prevails, there peace prevails: the fundamental law of human perfection, and consequently of the transformation of the world, is the new commandment of love.
Pope John Paul II, World Day of Peace Message, 2005
(From Xaverian News)