By Tyler Arnold
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 15, 2025 / 12:00 pm
When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church on May 8, he chose the name Leo XIV in part, he said a few days later, to honor Leo XIII and his historical encyclical Rerum Novarum, a foundational document in Catholic social teaching that addressed the challenges of the industrial revolution.
With the dawn of artificial intelligence, the new pope suggests that the teachings of the Catholic Church can guide us through these technological advancements. Alongside the vast body of social doctrine, the Church’s wisdom can help us navigate the complexities of AI.
Today marks the 134th anniversary of the publication of Rerum Novarum on May 15, 1891. On this occasion, CNA delves into the significance of this encyclical.
During the late 1800s, as Europe grappled with the industrial revolution and the rise of socialist ideologies, Pope Leo XIII penned an encyclical that acknowledged the struggles of the working class while condemning socialist movements of the time.
The encyclical stressed the need for reforms to uphold the dignity of laborers while also recognizing the importance of a harmonious relationship between labor and capital, as well as the sanctity of private property.
Published less than half a century after the release of “The Communist Manifesto” by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848, and following Pope Pius IX’s denunciation of socialism and communism in his 1849 encyclical Nostis et Nobiscum, Pope Leo XIII’s teachings remain relevant in understanding labor-capital dynamics.
In his writing, Leo XIII highlights the fallacy embraced by socialist labor movements that perpetuates the belief that different classes are inherently at odds. He asserts that the wealthy and working class are meant to coexist harmoniously, debunking the idea that conflict is inevitable.
According to Leo XIII, it is natural for these classes to live in harmony to maintain societal balance. His teachings shed light on the importance of unity between labor and capital for the common good of society.
