Become a Member of CAPP!
Address Key Social Issues
“We Must Participate in Politics” Pope Francis
Private Audiences with the Holy Father
Purpose
Pope St. John Paul II established CAPP —
“to promote and defend the knowledge and the practice of the Church’s social doctrine.”
Message to the Members of the “Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice” Foundation
Apply!
Download the application form, and please submit the completed form, a resume and a letter of endorsement from your pastor to [email protected].
4 Reasons to Be a CAPP Member
We are Building a Movement
“[T]he Church in America…is faced with the challenge of recapturing the Catholic vision of reality and presenting it, in an engaging and imaginative way.” (Pope Benedict XVI, 1) CAPP is an important way to meet that challenge. And “By living this new life” we will not only be “interiorly transformed, but we also change the world around us.” (General Audience, April 27, 2011)
As Pope Francis told us: “[B]y sharing your own knowledge and expertise, and by making known the richness of the Church’s social doctrine, you seek to form the consciences of leaders in the political, social and economic sectors. I encourage you to persevere in these efforts.” (Address to CAPP, May 26, 2018)
Our Unique & Special Mission
It is our job! 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 et Spes, Chapter IV) As Pope Francis said: “Working 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.” (Second World Meeting of Popular Movements, 3.1)
Catholic social teaching is a key element that characterizes our spirituality – 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)
Our Founder is a Saint!
Religious and lay organizations take on the charism of their founder. Our founder is a successor of St. Peter; he sat on his chair and is a saint.
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.
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.
We Take the Call Seriously
Our Church says we must “engage in dialogue…not remaining confined to our communities and our institutions but accepting the challenge to take part in these…so as to speak and bear witness in [sic] these sectors, from the inside.” (Synod of Bishops XIII Ordinary General Assembly, 7)
Four months before his death 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)
Apply!
Download the application form, and please submit the completed form, a resume and a letter of endorsement from your pastor to [email protected].
Mission and Challenge
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to have Catholic social teaching implemented in society through lay Catholic business, academic and professional leaders; to order and throw light upon all the affairs of the world in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ, especially as contained in the Church’s social doctrine.
As Pope St. John Paul II said: “As far as the Church is concerned, the social message of the Gospel must not be considered a theory, but above all a basis and a motivation for action” (Centesimus Annus, 57). More specifically, about CAPP at our founding, he said: “Centesimus Annus – Pro Pontifice [is] a significant expression of your involvement as lay faithful“ (Address to FCAPP, June 5, 1993)
Our Mission
Our mission is to evangelize lay leaders – 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.
We take our inspiration here from Pope St. John Paul II’s admonition that: “[T]he pastoral care for the leading sectors of society has been neglected and many people have thus been estranged from the Church…the spread of secularism in these sectors — political or economic, union-related, military, social or cultural — shows how urgent it is that they be evangelized…insisting especially on the formation of consciences on the basis of the Church’s social doctrine…Conversely, if this evangelization of the leadership sector is neglected, it should not come as a surprise that many who are a part of it will be guided by criteria alien to the Gospel and at times openly contrary to it.” (Ecclesia America, 67)
Our Challenge
Our challenge is to develop a strong, committed group of Catholic lay leaders, rich in faith and theologically prepared to be present in public life to explain, develop and implement Catholic social teaching in our challenging world so as we may become a deep and credible voice in the public square.
This role is endorsed by Pope Francis who told us on June 8, 2019, it is our job “to bring about a deep transformation at all levels of our contemporary societies: individuals, corporations, institutions and politics.” (Address to CAPP Members)
CAPP Legal/Organization
Fondazione Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice (FCAPP) is a “canonical juridical person and a civil juridical person” incorporated in the State of Vatican City. The Fondazione was established by His Holiness, Pope St. John Paul II on June 5, 1993 by virtue of the apostolic power of the Church and the sovereignty of the State of Vatican City, in accordance with canons 331, 114 and 115 #3, 116 #1 and 1303 #1 of the Code of Canon Law; with Art.1 of the basic Law of Vatican City of June 7th, 1929 and Art.1 (letter a) of the Law on judicial sources of June 7th, 1929 II. Since its creation the Fondazione ‘resides’ in the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (A.P.S.A.). The Foundation governing board consists of 9 members: 2 appointed by the Secretary of State – 1 appointed by the President of A.P.S.A. – 2 elected by members – 4 selected by the board.
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Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice, Inc. (CAPP-USA) is the American arm of the Vatican based FCAPP. It is a membership corporation governed by the Connecticut Revised Nonstock Corporation Act – created to support lay leaders in bringing Catholic social teaching to bear in all aspects of society – to use Catholic social teaching as a vehicle for personal and professional expression. It is recognized by the United States Treasury as a 501 (C) (3), with further recognition as an independent “integrated auxiliary” of the Roman Catholic Church (holding this status independently of the “Red Book”). CAPP-USA benefits from the ecclesiastical guidance of Joseph Cardinal Tobin, C.Ss.R. (Archbishop of Newark) and The Most Reverend Frank Caggiano (Bishop of Bridgeport). Past advisors include The Most Reverend William E. Lori (Archbishop of Baltimore).