Vatican City, Mar 15, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- Sources
close the Holy See have indicated that Pope Benedict XVI is preparing
his first social encyclical, which may be entitled “Labor Domini,” or,
“The Work of the Lord.”
According to the
report, which has not yet been officially confirmed by the Holy See,
the encyclical would present a Christian vision of human work and
address the importance of work for society. Likewise, it would explore
the necessity and duty of the human person to work in some capacity.
A central theme
of the document looks to be work as a participation in the creative
action of God and, as a consequence, a means of sanctification.
It may also
address the challenges of “neo-liberalism” and of a lack of solidarity
in the world. Sources add that the document would probably not be
issued until at least Christmas.
Since Pope Leo
XII, every pontiff has issued social encyclicals coinciding with the
date of the first social encyclical, “Rerum Novarum.”
The last social
encyclical, entitled “Centesimus Annus,” was released by Pope John Paul
II to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Pope Leo’s historic
document.
The Church will celebrate the 115th anniversary of the encyclical this year.
