As a social research centre dedicated to the promotion of Catholic values in the framework of the European project, the first speeches of Pope Leo XIV have been received at JESC as a source of inspiration and as a confirmation of our mission. In just a few interventions, Pope Leo XIV made clear his vision of our social context, the key principles to aim for, and the method to promote those principles.
Addressing the College of Cardinals on May 10th, the Pope confirmed that he chose his name of Leo XIV in view of Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum Encyclical, which redefined Catholic Social Teaching in view of the industrial revolution, pointing that we live through a new industrial revolution “that poses new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour”. He elaborated on that idea on May 17th, stressing that, in a context of change and uncertainty, the Church is called to play a role, helping to discern a balance between technological opportunities and moral imperatives.
In this context of uncertainty and changes, the Pope presented in three words the “key pillars of the Church’s missionary activity”: peace, justice and truth. Those are not just lofty ideals; in the Pope’s diagnosis, they correspond to dire situations of our times. Peace is threatened by destructive wars, the weakening of multilateral institutions and new arms races. Justice is still elusive, in the context of continuing economic inequalities, inside and among countries, denying dignity to the weakest. Truth is fragilized by partisan narratives and the emergence of virtual spaces that increase isolation.
In the face of these challenges, the most recurring theme of Pope Leo XIV is dialogue. Building upon Vatican II’s call for a “courageous and trusting dialogue with the contemporary world in its various components and realities”, he insists on the Church’s role to help build a “culture of encounter”. Dialogue is not something external, it is at the core of social doctrine, defined as a “common, collective and even multidisciplinary pursuit of truth”. Any Christian interested in social life is thus invited to hear the invitation of the Pope “to participate actively and creatively in this discernment process, and thus contribute, with all of God’s people, to the development of the Church’s social doctrine in this age of significant social changes, listening to everyone and engaging in dialogue with all.”
At a time when Europe appears hesitant on how to reconcile its ideals with perceived economic and geopolitical constraints, we have to work harder than ever to turn this call for a dialogue with all into reality, in a spirit of common discernment.
Benoit Willemaers SJ
JESC Secretary for European Affairs
