4. Unification of East and
West Germany
1991: Persian Gulf
War, Kuwait
liberated, civil war in
Iraq
Background
5. “Centesimus Annus”
- which is Latin for “Hundredth
Anniversary” of “Rerum Novarum”
May 15, 1991
Pope John Paul II
Introduction
6. One of the 14 encyclicals Pope John Paul II
has issued
Written during the last days of cold war
Written to pay homage to Pope Leo XIII
Rereading of Rerum Novarum
Confirms the relevance and impact of
Pope Leo XIII’s teaching about economic
and social life
Introduction
7. Good Effects
Pope John Paul II confirms the
relevance and impact of Pope Leo
XIII's teachings about economic and
social life proven by the
developments in the European
countries.
Points out that the fall of Communism
was due to the spiritual void brought
about by atheism and because of the
violations of the rights of the workers
and the inefficiency of the economic
system.
Indicates capitalism as the cause of
the unprecedented poverty now
suffered by the billions of people on
earth, especially in the Third World.
Content
Bad Effects
Fall of Communism
Spiritual Void
Violation of the rights of workers
Inefficiency of the economic
system
Condemnation of the dictatorial
regimes
Horrors of the communist regimes
throughout the world.
8. Good Effects
It states that within the most advance
economies there exist some problems
that threaten and damage the physical
and spiritual health of the person.
Calls on the State to be the agent of
justice for the poor and to protect
human rights of all its citizens
Insist that the relation between the state
and its citizens must be seen in terms of
the "hierarchy of the true values of
human existence“
The right of private property
A workman's wages should be sufficient
to enable him to support himself, his
wife and his children.
"Humane" working hours and adequate
free-time
Content
Bad Effects
Defence of private property rights
and the right to form private
associations, including labor
unions
9. Good Effects
Right of private initiative and
ownership
The right to a just wage
The kingdom of God cannot be
confused with any temporal
kingdom
To defend and promote the
dignity and rights of human
persons regardless of personal
convictions
Content
10. • Every individual has a natural right to procure
what is required to live; and the poor can procure
that in no other way than by what they can earn
through their work.
• Society and the state must ensure wage levels
adequate for the maintenance of the worker and
his family, including a certain amount for savings.
11. Principles
• The Church must continue to defend the weakest
and ensure the necessary minimum support for
the unemployed worker.
• Full development not only refers to economic
progress, but also as a process that has a human
element
12. • The social message of the Gospel is
motivation for action to work towards
full development.
Principles
13. • Lessening of corruption
• Lessening of discrimination
• Attainment of equal rights among employees
• Achieving peace in the world
• Better world
• Stronger faith to God
• Atheism will be somehow lessened
• Less gap between the rich and poor
Conclusion