This document summarizes Pope Paul VI's 1967 encyclical Populorum Progressio, which addresses the need for international development and economic justice. The Pope calls for urgent action to promote development through economic planning, aid to developing nations, and equity in trade relations. He argues that development must respect human dignity and potential, not just economic growth. True development and peace require global solidarity and collaboration and overcoming injustice and inequality between nations.

1. POPULORUM PROGRESSIO
(On The Development of Peoples)
Catholic Social Teaching Report of
Mr. Jasper Dolor
AB Religious Education
Mary Help of Christians College - Canlubang

2. Historical Note:
• In this encyclical, Pope Paul VI
enlarges the scope of Leo XIII’s
treatment of the struggle between
the rich and the poor classes to
encompass the conflict between rich
and poor nations.

3. Historical Note:
• Populorum Progressio (March 26, 1967)
is the first encyclical devoted entirely
to the international development
issue. The Pope stresses the
economic sources of war and
highlights economic justice as the
basis for peace.

4. Historical Note:
• More so than any of his
predecessors, Pope Paul VI explicitly
criticizes basic tents of capitalism,
including the profit motive and the
unrestricted right of private property.

5. Major Areas of Concern:
• Human Aspirations
• Structural Injustice
• Church and Development
• New Humanism
• Common Good
• Economic Planning
• International Trade
• Peace

6. Contents:
I. Humanity’s Complete Development
A.The Data of the Problem
1.Human Aspirations (#6)
2. The means inherited from the
past are not lacking but are
insufficient for the present
situation (#7).

7. Contents:
I. Humanity’s Complete Development
A.The Data of the Problem
3. Social conflicts now have a
worldwide dimension (#9).
4. Structures have not adapted
themselves to the new conditions
(#10).

8. Contents:
I. Humanity’s Complete Development
B. The Church and Development
1. Responding to the teaching of Jesus,
the Church must foster human
progress (#12).
2. World demands action based on a
vision of the economic, social, cultural,
and spiritual aspects of the situation
(#13).

9. Contents:
I. Humanity’s Complete Development
B. The Church and Development
3. The Church was “founded to
establish on earth the Kingdom of
Heaven” (#13).
4. Development cannot be limited to
economic growth but looks to total
human potential (#14).

10. Contents:
I. Humanity’s Complete Development
B. The Church and Development
5. People have a right and duty to
develop themselves; as beings with
a spiritual dimension, people
should orient their lives to God,
creating a transcendent humanism
(#’s 15 – 16).

11. Contents:
I. Humanity’s Complete Development
B. The Church and Development
6. Each person is a member of society
(# 17).
7. Work is a necessity but greed must
be avoided (#18).
8. Avarice is the most obvious form of
moral underdevelopment (#19).

12. Contents:
I. Humanity’s Complete Development
B. The Church and Development
9. A new humanism embracing higher
values of love, friendship, prayer,
and contemplation is needed for a
full and authentic development
(#20).

13. Contents:
I. Humanity’s Complete Development
C. Action to be Undertaken
1. Universal purpose of created things
(#’s 22 – 24)
2. Industrialization (#’s 25 – 26).
3. Urgency to the task (#’s 29 – 32).
4. Programs & Planning (#’s 33 – 42).

14. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
A. Aid for the Poor
1. The problem: hunger, malnutrition,
stunted physical and mental
growth (# 45).
2. Response demands generosity,
sacrifice, and efforts by the rich: a
solidarity that costs (# 46).

15. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
A. Aid for the Poor
3. Advanced countries should offer
financial and educational assistance
(# 47).
4. “The superfluous wealth of rich
countries should be placed at the
service of poor nations” (# 49).

16. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
A. Aid for the Poor
5. Recommendations: support Food
& Agriculture Organization;
establish a World Fund (money
from arms race to aid destitute);
worldwide collaboration and
dialogue (#’s 52 – 54).

17. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
A. Aid for the Poor
6. Public and private extravagance of
wealth is an unbearable scandal
(# 53).

18. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
B. Equity in Trade Relations
1. The problem: industrialized nations
export primarily manufactured goods;
developing nations raw goods; price
of manufactured goods is increasing;
raw materials are subject to wide
price fluctuation... (# 57).

19. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
B. Equity in Trade Relations
2. Free trade is no longer capable of
governing international relations
(# 58).
3. The fundamental principles of
liberalism are in question (# 58).

20. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
B. Equity in Trade Relations
4. ‘On the condition of Labor’ held
that if the positions of the
contracting parties are unequal,
the contract is void (# 59).
5. Freedom of trade is fair only if it is
subject to social justice (# 59).

21. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
B. Equity in Trade Relations
6. Discussion and negotiation are
necessary to reach equality of
opportunity (# 61).
7. Nationalism and racism are major
obstacles of justice (#62).

22. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
C. Universal Charity
1. “The world is sick”: lack of concern
for others (# 66).
2. It is the duty of people to welcome
others, especially youth and
migrant workers (# 67).

23. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
D. Development is the New Name for
Peace
3. International collaboration on a
worldwide scale for justice is
needed (# 78).
4. The hour for action is NOW (# 80).

24. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
C. Universal Charity
3. Business people in developing
nations should be initiators of
social progress & human
advancement (# 70).
4. Sincere dialogue & affection are
needed (# 73).

25. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
D. Development is the New Name for
Peace
1. Peace is built in pursuit of God’s
order (# 76).
2. People themselves have a prime
responsibility for their own
development (# 77).

26. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
D. Development is the New Name for
Peace
5. Role of lay persons: “to infuse a
Christian spirit into the mentality,
customs, laws and structures” of
their communities and nations
(# 81).

27. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
D. Development is the New Name for
Peace
6. Catholics should support
development efforts generously
(# 81).
7. To struggle against injustice is to
promote the common good (# 82).

28. Contents:
II. Development in Solidarity
D. Development is the New Name for
Peace
8. Peace is not the mere absence of
war (# 83).

29. Summary & Implications:
In ‘The Development of Peoples’,
Pope Paul VI speaks to the challenge
of development. He explores the
nature of poverty and the conflicts it
produces. He articulates the role of
the Church in the process of
development and sketches a
Christian vision of development.

30. The Pope calls for urgent action which
respects the universal purpose of
created things. He advocates
economic planning and aid to
promote development. Paul VI urges
equity in trade relations as well as
universal charity.
Summary & Implications:

31. He concludes by terming
“development” the new name for
peace and exhorts all Christians to
strive for justice.
Summary & Implications:

32. • Catholic Social Teaching:
Our Best Kept Secret
(DeBerri E. & Hug J.) pp. 68 – 72
• Social Encyclicals:
Commentary & Critique
(Salgado P., O.P.) pp. 238 – 304
Sources: