Pope Benedict XVI will release a new encyclical letter entitled “Caritas in Veritate” (Charity in Truth) concerning social issues.Italian press sources said on May 28 that, while the date of release has not yet been fixed, it has been in the works since before the April 2008 visit of the pontiff to the US.
It will be the third encyclical released by Benedict.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone told the press that the letter will focus on “international social problems, with special thought to developing countries.”
The document, which will be distributed to all the Catholic bishops of the world promises to “have a significant impact on the great socio-economic problems of the contemporary world”, promised Cardinal Bertone.
It will be distributed in several languages, including Mandarin, said the cardinal.
The document comes upon the 40th anniversary of the release of another papal encyclical “Populorum Progressio” (Development of Peoples) that was released by Benedict’s predecessor Pope Paul VI that touched upon such economic issues as the right to a just wage, security of employment, and the universal destination of resources and goods.
Pope Benedict is also working on the second part of his book “Jesus of Nazareth”, and continues to write and edit even while ostensibly on vacation outside of Rome.
According to an interview with Italian media, Cardinal Bertone said that Pope Benedict "does not want to repeat obvious truths of Catholic social teaching," but will apply Catholic teachings to contemporary issues, such as “globalization and other problems, like the food crisis and climate change."
The difficulty of translating the text of “Caritas in Veritate” into the various languages, especially Mandarin, has delayed its release. Cardinal Bertone said that is still being written.
In an address on January 2008, Pope Benedict spoke on the themes expected in “Caritas in Veritate”.
The pontiff said that “There is a need for greater hope, one that permits a preference for the common good instead of luxury for a few and misery for the many.”
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