RERUM NOVARUM

An Encyclical by Pope Leo XIII

An encyclical by Pope Leo XII released in 1891. It
is the social encyclicals and it was issued at a
time of immense social change in Europe,
marked by the awakening of democracy.

A rise in industrialization and the influence

of capitalism, and the popular appeal of commu
nism among working people.
This encyclical was engaged by Pope
Leo because of his concern on rise
of communism, in which it claimed
to offer worker a socio-economic
and political alternative to the
alliance between aristocratic
privilege and the capital Industrial
interests and at the same time he
saw the excess of capitalist development
and the exploitation and the dire
poverty of workers.
The Three Major Themes in the
Encyclical
 The Balance Between Labor and Capital
“It is no easy matter to define the relative and mutual duties of the rich
and or the poor, of capital and of labor, and the danger lies in
this, that crafty
allegations are intent on making use of these differences of opinion to
pervert mens judgments to stir up the people to revolt.”
Workers Duties
• Not to damage the employers property or resort to violence.
• To perform conscientiously the work they have freely agreed to do.
• Not have anything to do with men of principles.

Employers’ Duties
• Respecting the dignity of their workers, not treating them as indentured
labor or simply a factor of production.
• Not to overtax their workers
• To give everyone what is just and not to reduce wages by fraud or
undue pressure.
The Common Good
Pope Leo made it clear that people have the right to private ownership, but
must balance that right against the idea of the common good.

• The principle that it is one thing to have a right to the possession of money.

• Whoever has received from the divine bounty, a large share of temporal
blessings has received them for the purpose of using them for the
perfecting of his own nature.

• All citizens, without exception, can and must contribute

to that common good.
Also in this encyclical, Pope Leo expresses what has become known as the
preferential option for the poor: the teaching that the poor, the marginalized
and the vulnerable have a special call on our charity.

• When there is question of defending the rights of individuals, the poor

has a claim to special consideration.

• The Church’s desire is that for the poor to rise above poverty and better
their condition in life.
The Role of the State
To maintain the balance between competing and often unequal
forces.
• It lies in the power of a ruler to benefit every class in the State, and amon
gst the rest to promote to the utmost the interests of the poor.

In supporting the individuals and the families to grow and develop.

• The State must not absorb the individual or the family.

Fundamental to the call of this encyclical is the God-given dignity

of the human person.
• Key to this dignity is the availability of work.
Principles of Catholic Teaching
 LIFE AND DIGNITY OF A HUMAN PERSON

PROMOTION SYMBOL VIOLATION

A mother carrying her daughter The human person is a unified An adult smoking while child is n
across Session Road being the specie of life and dignity. ear leading to second-hand
ray of hope of the child. smoking, demoting life.
 COMMON GOOD
PROMOTION SYMBOL
A picture of traffic officer/ A picture of 2 policewomen
enforcer ensuring the safety and ensuring public safety and
free flow of traffic on the public reducing the fear and incidence
roads. of crime in the community.
VIOLATION
A photo of cars almost blocking
the pedestrian lane, making peo
ple feel unsafe and scared while
crossing the road.
CALL TO FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND PARTICIPATION

VIOLATION PROMOTION SYMBOL

“No man is an island.” A picture of a family celebration A group of students in a uniform
the Eucharist. showing belongingness in a
group.
 RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
PROMOTION VIOLATION SYMBOL
We have the responsibility to ma Most of the time we don’t give e All of us have the right to enjoy
intain its cleanliness nough care of it. and fully utilize the public
and orderliness. spaces allotted for us.
 OPTION FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE

SYMBOL VIOLATION PROMOTION

The city’s incapability of A picture of garbage can not A picture to give more emphasis
garbage management screams being utilized properly. on the current garbage situation
poverty. in Baguio City.
 THE DIGNITY OF WORK AND THE RIGHTS OF WORKER

SYMBOL PROMOTION VIOLATION

A barber doing his daily haircuts An honest saleslady selling her In some cases, people see men
to his client. vegetables to the public. with rugged clothes as others.
 SOLIDARITY

PROMOTION SYMBOL VIOLATION

Men cooperating and unloading A person contributing to Ego demotes solidarity.
the truck of fruits. the division of labor.
 CARE FOR GOD'S CREATION

PROMOTION VIOLATION SYMBOL

A picture of a woman caring for t A picture of a damaged trash An employee of the university
he plants. bins. cleaning up near the fountain.
SUBSIDIARITY
VIOLATION
Only a part of the
community taking care of
the whole community’s
waste.
PROMOTION
A picture to give
more awareness to lo
cal decisions and
SYMBOL Changes.
Garbage management
being handled by the
community.
UNIVERSAL DESTINATION OF GOODS
VIOLATION
Some NFA rice are
being added to other
varieties of rice which
leads to injustice.
SYMBOL
A picture of a fruit
stand.

PROMOTION
A picture of goods in a
market place being
sold to consumers.