Pope Leo XIV: Continuing Leo XIII’s Work

If you want to know about Leo XIV’s vision, you need to know about Leo XIII.

Pope Leo XIII, who reigned from 1878 to 1903, is widely regarded as the "Workers' Pope" and a pioneer of modern Catholic social teaching. His landmark encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891) addressed the social upheaval caused by the Industrial Revolution and laid the groundwork for the Church's engagement with issues of social justice.

The Industrial Revolution and its Discontents

The late 19th century was a time of immense change. Industrialization had led to unprecedented economic growth, but also to harsh working conditions, low wages, and a widening gap between the rich and the poor. Socialist and communist ideologies gained traction, promising radical solutions to these problems. Pope Leo XIII recognized the urgent need for the Church to offer a moral and ethical framework to address these challenges.

Rerum Novarum: A Groundbreaking Encyclical

In Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII articulated the rights and duties of both workers and employers. He condemned the exploitation of labor and advocated for:

• The dignity of work: Emphasizing that work is not merely a commodity but an essential part of human life.

• Just wages: Arguing that workers have a right to a wage sufficient to support themselves and their families.

• Safe working conditions: Calling for employers to ensure the well-being of their employees.

• The right to organize: Affirming the right of workers to form unions to protect their interests.

• The role of the state: Asserting that the government has a responsibility to promote the common good and protect the vulnerable.

While defending the right to private property, Pope Leo XIII also stressed that property ownership comes with social responsibilities. He rejected both unbridled capitalism and socialism, seeking a balanced approach that upheld both individual rights and the common good.

Legacy and Impact

Rerum Novarum had a profound impact, shaping Catholic social teaching and influencing social reform movements around the world. It provided a moral compass for addressing the challenges of industrial society and inspired subsequent popes to further develop the Church's social doctrine.

Leo's Social Justice Legacy

The foundational principles of Catholic Social Teaching provide a framework for a just and compassionate society, addressing key areas of human dignity, community, rights, and responsibility. The following are at the heart of Leo XIII's legacy and Leo XIV's hopes:

• Life and Dignity of the Human Person: This is the foundational principle. The Church proclaims that human life is sacred from conception to natural death, and that the dignity of every person is the basis for a moral society. This means people are more important than things, and institutions should be measured by whether they enhance or threaten human life and dignity.

•  Call to Family, Community, and Participation: The human person is not only sacred but also social. Society's structures (economic, political, legal) directly impact human dignity and the ability of individuals to thrive in community. Marriage and the family are central social institutions that must be supported. People have a right and a duty to participate in society, working for the common good, especially for the poor and vulnerable.

• Rights and Responsibilities: Human dignity can only be protected, and a healthy community achieved, if human rights are upheld and responsibilities are met. Every person has fundamental rights necessary for human decency (e.g., right to life, food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education, work, and economic security). Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities to one another, to families, and to the broader society.

• Option for the Poor and Vulnerable: A basic moral test of any society is how its most vulnerable members are faring. CST instructs society to prioritize the needs of the poor and vulnerable, putting them first in policy decisions and resource allocation. This is often linked to the Biblical injunction to care for "the least of these."

• The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers: The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is seen as more than just a means to a living; it is a form of participation in God's creation. For work's dignity to be protected, workers' basic rights must be respected, including the right to productive work, decent and fair wages, safe working conditions, the right to organize and join unions, and the right to private property.

• Solidarity: This principle emphasizes that humanity is one interdependent family, regardless of national, racial, ethnic, economic, or ideological differences. It calls for a commitment to the common good, recognizing that loving one's neighbor has global dimensions. Solidarity demands working for justice and peace, understanding that peace is a fruit of justice.

•  Care for God's Creation (Stewardship of the Earth): This principle highlights humanity's responsibility to respect the Creator through stewardship of creation. Care for the Earth is a requirement of faith, calling for protection of people and the planet and living in right relationship with all of God's creation. This addresses environmental challenges with moral and ethical dimensions.

Pope Leo XIII's legacy as the "Workers' and Social Justice Pope" endures to this day. His teachings continue to guide the Church's efforts to promote social justice, defend the dignity of work, and advocate for the rights of the poor and marginalized. He is remembered as a visionary leader who helped the Church navigate the complexities of the modern world and respond with compassion and wisdom to the needs of the working class.