Caritas in Veritate

Even though Pope Benedict's newest encyclical on Social concerns release date has been shelved yet again, due to his desire to address the financial crisis in more depth, clues are beginning to drip out of the Vatican as to it's main thrust.  And oh man, am I pumped to read this one!!!

Here is the most recent news on the Pope's first social encyclical from his English publisher...

"Love in Truth" applies the teaching of the pope's first two encyclicals (on love and on hope), to the major social issues of today's world, the publisher said. 

The first part of the new encyclical examines the contributions of Popes Paul VI and John Paul II to Catholic social teaching, in particular their rejection of simplistic conservative-liberal categories and environmental concerns, it said. 

The encyclical's second part outlines moral principles needed to confront contemporary social issues, including assaults on human dignity and human life, poverty, war and peace, terrorism, globalization and environmental concerns, it said. 

From the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Benedict has aimed to revive the roots of the faith. He has made clear that this is not a theoretical faith built solely on theological arguments, but a faith lived in the real world among those who suffer, and based on the dual commandment to love God and one's neighbor. 

Speaking to the new Lithuanian ambassador to the Vatican in early November, the pope eloquently summarized his essential message in a few quick strokes, and in the process critiqued the consumer society. 

"Since love of God leads to participation in the justice and generosity of God toward others, the practice of Christianity leads naturally to solidarity with one's fellow citizen and indeed with the whole of the human family, " he said. 

It leads to a determination to serve the common good and to take responsibility for the weaker members of society, and it curbs the desire to amass wealth for oneself alone. Our society needs to rise above the allure of material goods and to focus instead upon values that truly promote the good of the human person, " he said. 

You can read more about the new encyclical here.