Pope: Christians must live in harmony with church social teachings

Published: 2004-12-06

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians are called to live in harmony with the church's social teachings despite fears they might not be up to the task, said Pope John Paul II. Catholic social doctrine is "a demanding standard of justice and action," but that should not lead the faithful to feel its principles are "too great and noble" to ever be actualized in this world, he said. The pope's message came in an address he made Dec. 4 in the Vatican to participants attending the "Centesimus Annus" Foundation's annual congress. The pope said that since its establishment more than 10 years ago the foundation's aim has been to offer concrete support to the pope and the Holy See while making the church's teachings on social issues more widely known. The pope remarked it was "very suitable" that the foundation was focusing this year's meeting on the "Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church," which explains the church's social teachings and was released Oct. 25 by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

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