Quadragesimo anno

The encyclical “Quadragesimo Anno” was an open letter addressed to the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church and published on the fortieth anniversary of “ Rerum Novarum ” (1891). In Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII proclaimed the new social doctrine of the church. In his letter, he called for improving the living conditions of the workers and instituted a social movement, which later became known as Christian Democracy . The subsequent encyclicals “ Graves de Communi Re ” of Pope Leo XIII and the “Singulari Quadam” of Pope Pius X clarified Catholic social doctrine.

In Quadragesimo Anno, Pius XI touched on the ethical side of social and economic order and called for their improvement based on the principles of subsidiarity and corporatism . In a letter, he expressed the view that communism and unregulated capitalism pose a threat to the dignity of the individual. In return, he called for a path that lies “between the reefs of individualism and collectivism ” and which proceeds from equal respect for private property and labor ^[1] . However, in light of the growing influence of supporters of authoritarianism among Catholics, the rise of fascism and the conclusion of the Lateran agreements between the Vatican and Mussolini in 1929, the idea of ​​corporatism and the encyclical as a whole were perceived as a rejection of parliamentarism ^[2] . Her rethinking occurred only after the Second World War .

Quadragesimo Anno begins with a brief overview of Rerum Novarum and the conditions in which it was written. Pius XI notes the role of the Catholic Church in the trade union movement and the improvement of the situation of workers compared to 1891 ^[3] .

The pope proclaims the right to private property as inalienable and argues that its liquidation can cause extreme harm to workers ^[4] . At the same time, he emphasizes the inadmissibility of individualism in the issue of disposing of property, since people must take into account not only personal gain, but also the common good. Moreover, nationalization is permissible only in cases where the preservation of property in private hands constitutes a danger to public welfare ^[5] .

Next, Pius XI analyzes the industrial society and highlights such phenomena as the absorption of small structures by large ones, the strengthening of mutual dependence, the growth of egoism and class consciousness in the struggle for their own benefit. Speaking of earnings, Pius XI draws attention to the deep distortions that are expressed in the division of society on opposing groups on this issue. In his opinion, the concentration of profit among the class of large owners is as pernicious as the idea of ​​the distribution of income exclusively among the working class ^[6] . Papa believes that the products of labor should serve the good of society as a whole, and the division of profits by class is unacceptable. Wages should be determined by three factors: the responsibility of the worker to the family, the economic conditions of the enterprise and the consequences for the economy as a whole ^[7] .

Pius XI calls for state reform in accordance with the municipal subsidiarity ^[8] . He emphasizes the importance of the right to association ^[9] . He also calls for solidarity that encompasses all classes , in particular for cooperation between workers and employers ^[10] .

Further, the Pope condemns the concentration of power in the hands of a group of people involved in investing other people's money in international financial markets ^[11] . He concludes that, due to the lack of legal restrictions, competition itself destroyed and was replaced by an economic dictatorship ^[12] . He considers it unacceptable for large owners and financiers to actually usurp power that belongs to the state .

With regard to communism and socialism, Pius XI notes the growing contrast between these ideologies ^[13] . Pope condemns the Communists for widespread violence , inhumanity and destructiveness. At the same time, he criticizes the socialists for supporting the class struggle and a negative attitude towards private property. He claims the incompatibility of Christianity and socialism, in particular, characterizes Christian socialism as a delusion.

In conclusion, the encyclical Pius XI speaks of the importance of Christian ethics in all aspects of public life.

• History of Christian Democracy

• Pius XI. Quadragesimo Anno . Vatican, May 15, 1931 .
• Fedotov G.P. Quadragesimo anno // New City No. 1, 1931