Social Teaching Documents Print E-mail
Social Encyclicals and Other Major Documents

Rerum Novarum 
(On the Condition of Labor)  --  Pope Leo XIII, 1891

Quadragesimo Anno  (After Forty Years)  --  Pope Pius XI, 1931

Mater et Magistra
   (Christianity and Social Progress)  --  Pope John XXIII, 1961

Pacem in Terris
   (Peace on Earth)  --  Pope John XXIII, 1963

Gaudium et Spes  
(Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World) Vatican Council II, 1965

Populorum Progressio
(On the Development of Peoples)  --  Pope Paul VI, 1967

Justicia in Mundo  (Justice in the World) -- Synod of Bishops, 1971

Laborem Exercens 
  (On Human Work) --  Pope John Paul II, 1981

Sollicitudo Rei Socialis
   (On Social Concern)  --  Pope John Paul II, 1987

Centesimus Annus
  (The Hundredth Year)  --  Pope John Paul II, 1991

Evangelium Vitae
   (The Gospel of Life)  --  Pope John Paul II, 1995

Fides et Ratio
  (Faith and Reason)  --  Pope John Paul II, 1998

Deus Caritas Est   (God Is Love)  --  Pope Benedict XVI, 2005

Caritas in Veritate   (Charity in Truth) -- Pope Benedict XVI, 2009



From the US Catholic Conference of Bishops

Economic Justice for All -- 1986

A Decade After Economic Justice for All -- 1995

Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines -- 2003



Other Relevant Papal Documents

Sublimus Dei (On the Treatment of Indians) -- Pope Paul III, 1537

Exeunte Iam Anno (On the Right Ordering of Christian Life) -- Pope Leo XIII, 1888

Singulari Quadam (On Labor Organizations) -- Pope Pius X, 1912

Nova Impendet (On the Economic Crisis) -- Pope Pius XI, 1931

Vigilanti Cura (On Motion Pictures) -- Pope Pius XI, 1936

Summi Pontificatus (On the Unity of Human Society) -- Pope Pius XII, 1939

Le Pelerinage de Lourdes (Warning Against Materialism) -- Pope Pius XII, 1957

Humanae Vitae (On Human Life) -- Pope Paul VI, 1968

Octogesima Adveniens   (A Call to Action)  --  Pope Paul VI, 1971

Ecclesia in America   (The Church in America)  --  Pope John Paul II, 1999

Dives in Misericordia (On the Mercy of God) -- Pope John Paul II, 1980

Familiaris Consortio (On the Family) -- Pope John Paul II, 1981

Dangers of Genetic Manipulation -- Pope John Paul II, 1983

Salvifici Doloris (On Human Suffering) -- Pope John Paul II, 1984

On Responsible Parenthood -- Pope John Paul II, 1984

The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility -- Pope John Paul II, 1990

On Combatting Abortion and Euthanasia -- Pope John Paul, 1991

Television and Family -- Pope John Paul II, 1994

Celebrate and Serve Life! -- Pope John Paul II, 1995

An Economy for the Family -- The Pontifical Council for the Family, 1996

Show Concern for Plight of Migrants -- Pope John Paul II, 1996

Democracy Without Values Threatens Peace -- Pope John Paul II, 1996

Every Human Life is Sacred -- Pope John Paul II, 1997

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 July 2009 )