The Church's Social Doctrine has addressed economic issues since the publication of Pope Leo XIII's encyclical "Rerum Novarum" in 1891, which was the Church's first official response to the injustices of the Industrial Revolution. Since then, Popes such as Pius XI, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis have continued developing a body of teaching emphasizing the importance of an economy at the service of the human person.
The Universal Destination of Goods: The Church teaches that the goods of creation are intended for everyone and that private property is a right that must be exercised with social responsibility. Although private property is legitimate, it must always be subordinate to the common good and used to promote solidarity and the development of the whole community.
Preference for the Poor: The principle of the preferential option for the poor maintains that economic decisions must take the needs of the most disadvantaged into account. The Church promotes not only charity but also distributive justice, that is, the creation of social and economic structures enabling the poor to overcome exclusion and marginalization.
Solidarity and Subsidiarity: Solidarity is the principle emphasizing the interdependence of all human beings and the shared responsibility to promote everyone's good. Subsidiarity, on the other hand, maintains that decisions should be made at the level closest to the people affected, promoting the autonomy of local communities and avoiding excessive centralization.
