Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The importance of the theme chosen for the 45th Catholic Social Week being held in Pistoia and Pisa from the 18 to the 21 October - “The common good today: a commitment which comes from afar” - is an opportunity for in depth clarification of the term "common good" to avoid generic and at times improper use of the term”, Pope Benedict XVI said in a Message addressed to the president of the Italian Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa. The Pope recalls first of all that “this year is the centenary of the 1st Catholic Social Week held in Pistoia from the 23 to the 28 September 1907, at the initiative mainly of Prof. Giuseppe Toniolo, luminous figure of the Catholic layman, scientist and social apostle, protagonist of the Catholic Movement”. Referring to the theme of the common good, Benedict XVI underlines: “In the past, and still more today in these times of globalisation, the common good must be considered and promoted also in the context of international relations and it is clear that, precisely because of the social foundation of human existence, the good of each person is naturally connected with the good of the whole of humanity”.
The Pope mentions his Encyclical Deus caritas est to reaffirm that “to work to promote just order in society is the immediate task proper to the lay faithful…to act in the political field to build a just order in Italian society is the immediate task, not of the Church as such, but of her lay members. To this most important duty they must dedicate themselves with generosity and courage, illuminated by the faith and the teaching of the Church and driven by love for Christ”. It was for this reason that Social Weeks for Italian Catholics were instituted and also in the future they can offer “a decisive contribution towards the formation and animation of Christianly inspired citizens”.
The Holy Father's Message continues: “The daily chronicle reveals that society of our day faces many ethic and social emergencies which can undermine its stability and seriously jeopardise its future. Most topical is the anthropological question, which includes respect for human life and attention for the needs of the family founded on marriage between a man and a woman. As it has been said many times, these principles and values are not only 'Catholic' they are common human values to be defended and safeguarded, like justice, peace and protection of the environment. What to say then about problems relative to work in relation to the family and young people? When precariousness of work prevents young people from forming their own family, the authentic and complete development of society is seriously undermined”.
In the last part of the Message the Pope mentions “a specific ambit which also in Italy prompts Catholics to reflect: the ambit of the relation between religion and politics. The substantial novelty brought by Jesus is that He opened to way to a more human world of more freedom with full respect for the distinction and autonomy which exists between what is of Caesar and what is of God (cfr Mt 22, 21). The Church, therefore, if on the one hand acknowledges that she is not a political agent, on the other she cannot fail to give attention to the good of the whole civil community in which she lives and operates, and offer her special contribution forming political and entrepreneurial classes in a genuine spirit of truth and honesty, in the quest for the common good rather than personal profit.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 19/10/2007; righe 40, parole 582)
