{"id":41546,"date":"2021-03-12T19:06:42","date_gmt":"2021-03-12T19:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cappusa.wpengine.com\/?p=41546"},"modified":"2026-03-27T21:55:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T21:55:30","slug":"importance-of-centesimus-annus-article","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/es\/2021\/03\/importance-of-centesimus-annus-article\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Centesimus Annus"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_color=”#054368″ height=”35px” height_tablet=”” height_phone=”35px” height_last_edited=”on|phone” max_height=”35px” max_height_tablet=”” max_height_phone=”35px” max_height_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” min_height=”35px” height=”35px” max_height=”35px” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” make_fullwidth=”on” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/importance-of-centesimus-annus-article\/#newsletter” button_text=”Join our Newsletter” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600|||||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” custom_margin=”2px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”0px|50px|0px|50px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element=”font-family: %22Playfair Display%22″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#ffffff”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f2f2f2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”||50px||false|false” background_color_phone=”#FFFFFF” background_last_edited=”on|desktop” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font_size=”16px” quote_text_color=”#054368″ quote_font_size=”17pt” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” max_width=”75%” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”20px||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

What Makes St. John Paul the Great’s \u201cCentesimus Annus\u201d <\/span>So Important?<\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

by CAPP-USA<\/span><\/h5>\n

Here are five reasons.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

FIRST:<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\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

\n

Centesimus Annus is extraordinary in the way it reconfigures the basic framework of Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

\"Pope<\/p>\n

Pope St. John Paul II signing the landmark encyclical, Centesimus Annus<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

SECOND:<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\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

THIRD:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\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

FOURTH:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\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

FIFTH:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\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>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/magisterial-resources\/” button_text=”Magisterial Documents” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#054368″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/articles\/” button_text=”Back to Articles” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#054368″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Widget of Issues ” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.13.0″ width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_css_main_element=”width: 100% !important;” make_fullwidth=”on” global_module=”31023″ saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_slider show_image_video_mobile=”on” module_class=”three-principles” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ header_font=”Open Sans|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#084369″ header_font_size=”24px” header_line_height=”1.5em” body_text_color=”#084369″ width=”100%” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_slide_image_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_slide_image_phone=”width: auto;||margin: 0 auto !important;”][et_pb_slide heading=”Three Key Principles” button_link=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-principles\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Three-Principles.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” image_alt=”Three circles containing symbols of the three principles of catholic social teaching: human dignity, subsidiarity, and solidarity.” image_tablet=”” image_phone=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/3-Key-principle-icons-resized.png” image_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” z_index=”0″ overflow-x=”hidden” overflow-y=”hidden” link_option_url=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-principles\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 300px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n

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>\n

[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Human Dignity” button_link=”\/human-dignity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-Dignity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/human-dignity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n

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>\n

[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Solidarity” button_link=”\/solidarity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Solidarity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/solidarity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n

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>\n

[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Subsidiarity” button_link=”\/subsidiarity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Subsidiarity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/subsidiarity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n

Subsidiarity \u201cis a fundamental principle of social philosophy, fixed and unchangeable, that one should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry. So, too, it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and a disturbance of right order to transfer to the larger and higher collectivity functions which can be performed and provided for by the lesser and subordinate bodies\u201d. (Pope Pius XI)<\/a><\/p>\n

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