Pope Benedict XVI

Vatican City, May 19, 2009 / 11:52 am (CNA).- The first social encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, which will probably be called "Veritas in caritate" (Truth in Charity), appears as if it will see the light of day on June 29, the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, a source from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace informed CNA.

The encyclical "has finally been completed by the Holy Father and should be published by the end of June," the source told CNA. The same source also said that originally, Pope Benedict planned to publish his first social encyclical in 2007 to mark the 40^th anniversary of Pope Paul VI's memorable social encyclical Populorum Progressio, but the document "got delayed for several reasons."

According to the Justice and Peace source, the Pope wanted to publish his second encyclical Spes Salvi because he thought it was more important to release it first. "But then the current global financial crisis required, last year, a thorough revision of many of the Pope's proposals for global justice," the source said.

The last social encyclical, Centesimus annus, was published by Pope John Paul II in May 1991.

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