Read, reflect, put faith into practice
Catholic social teaching
Papal, Vatican and U.S. bishops’ documents
Explore Church teaching on human dignity and our life together. This reading directory brings papal, Vatican and U.S. bishops’ documents into one place, with links to the complete source texts.
Document links open external source websites. Language links appear where they were supplied.
Papal and Vatican documents
Rerum Novarum (On the Condition of Labor) - Pope Leo XIII, 1891
Quadragesimo Anno (After Forty Years) - Pope Pius XI, 1931
Mater et Magistra (Christianity and Social Progress) - St. John XXIII, 1961
Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) - St. John XXIII, 1963
Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World) - Second Vatican Council, 1965
Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Religious Freedom) - Second Vatican Council, 1965
Populorum Progressio (On the Development of Peoples) - St. Paul VI, 1967
Octogesima Adveniens (A Call to Action) - St. Paul VI, 1971
Evangelii Nuntiandi (Evangelization in the Modern World) - St. Paul VI, 1975
Laborem Exercens (On Human Work) - St. John Paul II, 1981
The Church and Racism: Towards a more fraternal society - Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 1989
Centesimus Annus (The Hundredth Year) - St. John Paul II, 1991
Veritatis splendor (The Splendor of Truth) - St. John Paul II, 1993
Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) - St. John Paul II, 1995
Dignitas Personae (The Dignity of a Person) - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 2008
Ecclesia in America (The Church in America) - St. John Paul II, 1999
Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason) - St. John Paul II, 1998
Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 2002
Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love) - Pope Benedict XVI, 2005
Sacramentum Caritatis (The Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Church's Life and Mission) - Pope Benedict XVI, 2007 (especially paragraphs 47, 49, 82-84, and 88-92)
Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth) - Pope Benedict XVI, 2009
Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) - Pope Francis, 2013
Laudato Si' (On Care for Our Common Home) - Pope Francis, 2015
Querida Amazonia (Beloved Amazon) - Pope Francis, 2020
Fratelli Tutti (On Fraternity and Social Friendship) - Pope Francis, 2020
Laudate Deum (Praise God) - Pope Francis, 2023
Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us) - Pope Francis, 2024
U.S. bishops’ documents
A Renewed Call to Solidarity with Africa, March 2022 | en Español | en français
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States, November 2015, (with 2023 Introductory Note). See previous political responsibility statements.
Open Wide Our Hearts: the Enduring Call to Love | en Español, November 2018
Respecting the Just Rights of Workers, June 2009
A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death | en Español November 2005
Catholics in Political Life, June 2004
"For I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Food" Catholic Reflections on Food, Farmers, and Farmworkers | en Español December 2003
Strangers No Longer | en Español January 2003, Joint Statement from Bishops of the United States and Mexico
A Place at the Table: A Catholic Recommitment to Overcome Poverty and to Respect the Dignity of All God's Children | en Español , December 2002
Statement on Iraq, November 2002
Statement on Israeli-Palestinian Violence, March 2002
A Call to Solidarity with Africa | en français, November 2001
A Pastoral Message: Living with Faith and Hope After September 11, November 2001
Resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis, June 2001
Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good | en Español June 2001
Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice | en Español November 2000
Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity | en Español November 2000
Everyday Christianity: To Hunger and Thirst for Justice | en Español November 1999
In All Things Charity: A Pastoral Challenge for the New Millennium, November 1999
A Good Friday Appeal to End the Death Penalty | en Español April 1999
A Commitment to All Generations: Social Security and the Common Good, May 1999
A Jubilee Call for Debt Forgiveness, April 1999
Living the Gospel of Life | en Español November 1998
Called to Global Solidarity | en Español November 1997
A Catholic Framework for Economic Life | en Español (unavailable) November 1996
A Decade After Economic Justice for All | en Español November 1995
Sowing Weapons of War, June 1995
Moral Principles and Policy Priorities for Welfare Reform, March 1995
The Cries of the Poor are Still with Us, September 1995
Confronting a Culture of Violence | en Español November 1994
The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace, November 1993
When I call for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women | en Español September 1992
Renewing the Earth | en Español, 1991
Putting Children and Families First: A Challenge for Our Church, Nation and World | en Español, 1991
New Slavery, New Freedom, 1990
Called to Compassion and Responsibility, November 1989
Homelessness and Housing, March 1988
Statement on Central America | en Español, November 1987
Economic Justice for All | en Español, November 1986
The Challenge of Peace, 1983
Statement on Capital Punishment, November 1980
In the Name of Peace: Collective Statements on War and Peace, 1919-1980
Brothers and Sisters to Us | en Español, 1979
Declaration on Conscientious Objection and Selective Conscientious Objection, October 1971