Quadragesimo anno

Quadragesimo anno (Latin for the fortieth year), on 15 May 1931 by Pope Pius XI. published encyclical. Your name is derived from the opening words of the introduction and refers to the fortieth anniversary of the publication of the Encyclical Rerum Novarum under Pope Leo XIII. The encyclical " Quadragesimo anno " of Pope Pius XI. (1931 ) was largely from Jesuit Gustav Gundlach and to the " Königswinterer circle " prepared (especially by lead author Oswald von Nell- Breuning ).

In his introduction, is Pope Pius XI. to the circular of Leo XIII. one, here it is said: " Forty years have passed since our predecessor of happy memory, Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum its splendid circular who issued. . In grateful joy of the whole Catholic globe take this occasion to celebrate the commemoration deservedly celebrated. "

Content Description

The encyclical speaks on the labor question addition, the social order as a whole to. It yearns for social reforms and deployed under this aspect, the idea of ​​subsidiarity and of the professional order. The principle of subsidiarity guaranteed social freedom. She is looking at ways of appropriate assistance through state or local government agencies.

• The first part refers to the action history of " Rerum Novarum " ( 16-40 ).

• The second part is about the Church's teaching of the economy and society ( 41-98 ). In this case the property ( 44-52 ) is recognized in its individual and social function. Although the State may not override the right to private property, but probably he can arrange the use and, where appropriate, restrict the sake of the common good. Capital and labor ( 53-58 ) are dependent on each other. The income from the interaction of labor and capital must be made subservient to the general benefit. The deproletarization ( 59-63 ) has to reduce the goal to promote home ownership by workers and thus contribute to a sharing of ownership and impoverishment. The just reward ( 64-75 ) is measured in addition to the respective performance for the life needs of the worker and his family, according to the viability of the company and the general welfare. A participation of the workers in the company is advocated. Social Reform ( 76-98 ) is both states reform ( structural reform ) as well as the commitment to moral improvement (mentality reform). In the encyclical also states ( 79): " Every society practice is inherently and phrase subsidiary; it will assist the members of the body social, and never destroy it or vacuum. "Besides statements are made to order professional ( 81-87 ), have given rise to many misunderstandings which occasion. In the professional bodies a balance between capital and labor is to take place. A just social and economic order of society and to regulate, within certain limits legitimate and useful competition.

• In the third part ( 99-126 ) both forms of socialism (ie, both the radical Marxism- communism as well as the moderate democratic socialism) is rejected, although it is recognized that the moderate can recognize a certain approximation to the postulates of a Christian social reform (117 ): "Socialism, whether as a teacher, as a historical phenomenon or a movement, even after it is space in these pieces of truth and justice, remains with the teaching of the Catholic Church do not mix. He should because cease to be socialism: the contradiction between the socialist and Christian conception of society is unbridgeable. "

• A state reform must combine with moral renewal of the Christian spirit, as pointed out, the last section of the encyclical ( 127-148 ).