For Christianity, "work is fundamental for man".
For this
reason, "the goal of access to work for all is always a priority, even in
periods of economic recession."
In order to reach that end, we must "dethrone
modern idols, and replace individualism, materialistic consumerism and
technocracy with a culture of brotherhood, free-giving, and mutual love," this
is "a new evangelisation in the social sphere."
The pope received and spoke to the participants to the 27th plenary
assembly of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace.
Since the plenary assembly
is taking place "in the Year of Faith, after the synod dedicated to the new
evangelisation and on the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican
Council and, in a few months, of the Encyclical Pacem in terris of the Blessed Pope John XXIII," Benedict XVI said
that "the social doctrine, as the Blessed Pope John Paul II taught us, is an
integral part of the Church's evangelising mission.
A fortiori it must be considered
important for the new evangelisation. By welcoming Jesus Christ and his Gospel,
in addition to one's life, we bear also in social relations a vision of man, his
dignity, liberty and relations, which is marked by transcendence, both
horizontal and vertical."
"Although
great progress has been made in our time in the defence of human rights, today's
culture, characterised by utilitarian individualism and technocratic economic
policies, tends to devalue the human person. Today's man is considered
primarily in 'biological terms' or as 'human capital' or a 'resource' in the overarching
productive and financial machinery of society."
"Even
though human dignity continues to be much vaunted, new ideologies, such as
hedonistic and selfish sexual and reproductive rights or uncurbed financial
capitalism that abuses political power and undermines the 'real economy,' reduce
employees and their work to the status of 'minor goods,' thus undermining the
natural foundations of society, especially the family. In fact, human beings, inherently
transcendent compared to other beings or earthly goods, enjoy true primacy,
which gives them responsibility for themselves and creation."
This
is a "social vision", based on "a new commandment: love one another. As I have
loved you, so you also should love one another"(Jh, 13-34); the secret of a fully human and peaceful social life,
and the basis for the renewal of politics and national and international institutions."
"The
Blessed John XXIII motivated efforts to build a world community, with a
corresponding authority precisely on love for the common good of the human
family. The Church certainly does not have the task of suggesting, from a
judicial or political point of view, the precise configuration of an
international system of this type, but rather offers a set of principles for
reflection, criteria for judgement and practical guidelines able to guarantee
an anthropological and ethical structure for the common good" (cf Enc. Caritas in
veritate,
67).
"However,
it is important to note that one should not envisage a superpower, concentrated
in the hands of the few, dominating all peoples and exploiting the weakest
among them; rather such an authority should be understood primarily as a moral
force, a power to influence according to reason (cf Pacem in terris, 27), or
rather as a participatory authority, limited in jurisdiction and by law."