Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

The Church's social doctrine is a privileged instrument of dialogue between Christian communities and the civil and political community. It is an appropriate tool for promoting and cultivating attitudes of authentic and productive cooperation in ways adapted to the circumstances. The commitment of civil and political authorities, called to serve the personal and social vocation of mankind according to their own areas of competence and with the means available to them, can find in the social teaching of the Church an important support and a rich source of inspiration.

The social teaching of the Church is also fertile soil for dialogue and collaboration in the ecumenical sphere. This is already happening in various places on a broad scale concerning the defence of the dignity of the human person, the promotion of peace, the concrete and effective struggle against the miseries of today's world, such as hunger and poverty, illiteracy, the unequal distribution of the goods of the earth and the lack of housing. This multifaceted cooperation increases awareness that all are brothers and sisters in Christ, and makes the journey along the path of ecumenism easier.

In the common tradition of the Old Testament, the Catholic Church is able to engage in dialogue with her Jewish brothers and sisters, which she does also through her social doctrine, in order to build together a future of justice and peace for all people, as sons and daughters of the one God. This common spiritual heritage fosters mutual knowledge and reciprocal esteem^{1133Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Declaration Nostra Aetate, 4: AAS 58 (1966), 742-743.}, on the basis of which broader agreement can be reached concerning the elimination of all forms of discrimination and the defence of human dignity.

The Church's social doctrine is also characterized by a constant call to dialogue among all members of the world's religions so that together they will be able to seek the most appropriate forms of cooperation. Religion has an important role to play in the pursuit of peace, which depends on a common commitment to the integral development of the human person^{1134Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 32: AAS 80 (1988), 556-557.}. In the spirit of the meetings for prayer held in Assisi^{113527 October 1986; 24 January 2002.}, the Church continues to invite believers of other religions to dialogue and encourage everywhere effective witness to those values shared by the entire human family.