21.PaulVIhadanarticulatedvisionofdevelopment.Heunderstoodthetermtoindicatethegoalofrescuingpeoples,firstandforemost,fromhunger,deprivation,endemicdiseasesandilliteracy.Fromtheeconomicpointofview,thismeanttheiractiveparticipation,onequalterms,intheinternationaleconomicprocess;fromthesocialpointofview,itmeanttheirevolutionintoeducatedsocietiesmarkedbysolidarity;fromthepoliticalpointofview,itmeanttheconsolidationofdemocraticregimescapableofensuringfreedomandpeace.Aftersomanyyears,asweobservewithconcernthedevelopmentsandperspectivesofthesuccessionofcrisesthatafflicttheworldtoday,weasktowhatextentPaulVI'sexpectationshavebeenfulfilledbythemodelofdevelopmentadoptedinrecentdecades.Werecognize,therefore,thattheChurchhadgoodreasontobeconcernedaboutthecapacityofapurelytechnologicalsocietytosetrealisticgoalsandtomakegooduseoftheinstrumentsatitsdisposal.Profitisusefulifitservesasameanstowardsanendthatprovidesasensebothofhowtoproduceitandhowtomakegooduseofit.Onceprofitbecomestheexclusivegoal,ifitisproducedbyimpropermeansandwithoutthecommongoodasitsultimateend,itrisksdestroyingwealthandcreatingpoverty.TheeconomicdevelopmentthatPaulVIhopedtoseewasmeanttoproducerealgrowth,ofbenefittoeveryoneandgenuinelysustainable.Itistruethatgrowthhastakenplace,anditcontinuestobeapositivefactorthathasliftedbillionsofpeopleoutofmisery—recentlyithasgivenmanycountriesthepossibilityofbecomingeffectiveplayersininternationalpolitics.Yetitmustbeacknowledgedthatthissameeconomicgrowthhasbeenandcontinuestobeweigheddownbymalfunctionsanddramaticproblems,highlightedevenfurtherbythecurrentcrisis.Thispresentsuswithchoicesthatcannotbepostponedconcerningnothinglessthanthedestinyofman,who,moreover,cannotprescindfromhisnature.Thetechnicalforcesinplay,theglobalinterrelations,thedamagingeffectsontherealeconomyofbadlymanagedandlargelyspeculativefinancialdealing,large-scalemigrationofpeoples,oftenprovokedbysomeparticularcircumstanceandthengiveninsufficientattention,theunregulatedexploitationoftheearth'sresources:allthisleadsustodaytoreflectonthemeasuresthatwouldbenecessarytoprovideasolutiontoproblemsthatarenotonlynewincomparisontothoseaddressedbyPopePaulVI,butalso,andaboveall,ofdecisiveimpactuponthepresentandfuturegoodofhumanity.Thedifferentaspectsofthecrisis,itssolutions,andanynewdevelopmentthatthefuturemaybring,areincreasinglyinterconnected,theyimplyoneanother,theyrequireneweffortsofholisticunderstandingandanewhumanisticsynthesis.Thecomplexityandgravityofthepresenteconomicsituationrightlycauseusconcern,butwemustadoptarealisticattitudeaswetakeupwithconfidenceandhopethenewresponsibilitiestowhichwearecalledbytheprospectofaworldinneedofprofoundculturalrenewal,aworldthatneedstorediscoverfundamentalvaluesonwhichtobuildabetterfuture.Thecurrentcrisisobligesustore-planourjourney,tosetourselvesnewrulesandtodiscovernewformsofcommitment,tobuildonpositiveexperiencesandtorejectnegativeones.Thecrisisthusbecomesanopportunityfordiscernment,inwhichtoshapeanewvisionforthefuture.Inthisspirit,withconfidenceratherthanresignation,itisappropriatetoaddressthedifficultiesofthepresenttime.
22.Todaythepictureofdevelopmenthasmanyoverlappinglayers.Theactorsandthecausesinbothunderdevelopmentanddevelopmentaremanifold,thefaultsandthemeritsaredifferentiated.Thisfactshouldpromptustoliberateourselvesfromideologies,whichoftenoversimplifyrealityinartificialways,anditshouldleadustoexamineobjectivelythefullhumandimensionoftheproblems.AsJohnPaulIIhasalreadyobserved,thedemarcationlinebetweenrichandpoorcountriesisnolongerasclearasitwasatthetimeofPopulorumProgressio[55].Theworld'swealthisgrowinginabsoluteterms,butinequalitiesareontheincrease.Inrichcountries,newsectorsofsocietyaresuccumbingtopovertyandnewformsofpovertyareemerging.Inpoorerareassomegroupsenjoyasortof“superdevelopment”ofawastefulandconsumeristkindwhichformsanunacceptablecontrastwiththeongoingsituationsofdehumanizingdeprivation.“Thescandalofglaringinequalities”[56]continues.Corruptionandillegalityareunfortunatelyevidentintheconductoftheeconomicandpoliticalclassinrichcountries,botholdandnew,aswellasinpoorones.Amongthosewhosometimesfailtorespectthehumanrightsofworkersarelargemultinationalcompaniesaswellaslocalproducers.Internationalaidhasoftenbeendivertedfromitsproperends,throughirresponsibleactionsbothwithinthechainofdonorsandwithinthatofthebeneficiaries.Similarly,inthecontextofimmaterialorculturalcausesofdevelopmentandunderdevelopment,wefindthesesamepatternsofresponsibilityreproduced.Onthepartofrichcountriesthereisexcessivezealforprotectingknowledgethroughanundulyrigidassertionoftherighttointellectualproperty,especiallyinthefieldofhealthcare.Atthesametime,insomepoorcountries,culturalmodelsandsocialnormsofbehaviourpersistwhichhindertheprocessofdevelopment.
23.Manyareasoftheglobetodayhaveevolvedconsiderably,albeitinproblematicalanddisparateways,therebytakingtheirplaceamongthegreatpowersdestinedtoplayimportantrolesinthefuture.Yetitshouldbestressedthatprogressofamerelyeconomicandtechnologicalkindisinsufficient.Developmentneedsabovealltobetrueandintegral.Themerefactofemergingfromeconomicbackwardness,thoughpositiveinitself,doesnotresolvethecomplexissuesofhumanadvancement,neitherforthecountriesthatarespearheadingsuchprogress,norforthosethatarealreadyeconomicallydeveloped,norevenforthosethatarestillpoor,whichcansuffernotjustthrougholdformsofexploitation,butalsofromthenegativeconsequencesofagrowththatismarkedbyirregularitiesandimbalances.
AfterthecollapseoftheeconomicandpoliticalsystemsoftheCommunistcountriesofEasternEuropeandtheendoftheso-calledopposingblocs,acompletere-examinationofdevelopmentwasneeded.PopeJohnPaulIIcalledforit,whenin1987hepointedtotheexistenceoftheseblocsasoneoftheprincipalcausesofunderdevelopment[57],inasmuchaspoliticswithdrewresourcesfromtheeconomyandfromtheculture,andideologyinhibitedfreedom.Moreover,in1991,aftertheeventsof1989,heaskedthat,inviewoftheendingoftheblocs,thereshouldbeacomprehensivenewplanfordevelopment,notonlyinthosecountries,butalsointheWestandinthosepartsoftheworldthatwereintheprocessofevolving[58].Thishasbeenachievedonlyinpart,anditisstillarealdutythatneedstobedischarged,perhapsbymeansofthechoicesthatarenecessarytoovercomecurrenteconomicproblems.
24.TheworldthatPaulVIhadbeforehim—eventhoughsocietyhadalreadyevolvedtosuchanextentthathecouldspeakofsocialissuesinglobalterms—wasstillfarlessintegratedthantoday'sworld.Economicactivityandthepoliticalprocesswerebothlargelyconductedwithinthesamegeographicalarea,andcouldthereforefeedoffoneanother.Productiontookplacepredominantlywithinnationalboundaries,andfinancialinvestmentshadsomewhatlimitedcirculationoutsidethecountry,sothatthepoliticsofmanyStatescouldstilldeterminetheprioritiesoftheeconomyandtosomedegreegovernitsperformanceusingtheinstrumentsattheirdisposal.HencePopulorumProgressioassignedacentral,albeitnotexclusive,roleto“publicauthorities”[59].
Inourownday,theStatefindsitselfhavingtoaddressthelimitationstoitssovereigntyimposedbythenewcontextofinternationaltradeandfinance,whichischaracterizedbyincreasingmobilitybothoffinancialcapitalandmeansofproduction,materialandimmaterial.ThisnewcontexthasalteredthepoliticalpowerofStates.
Today,aswetaketoheartthelessonsofthecurrenteconomiccrisis,whichseestheState'spublicauthoritiesdirectlyinvolvedincorrectingerrorsandmalfunctions,itseemsmorerealistictore-evaluatetheirroleandtheirpowers,whichneedtobeprudentlyreviewedandremodelledsoastoenablethem,perhapsthroughnewformsofengagement,toaddressthechallengesoftoday'sworld.Oncetheroleofpublicauthoritieshasbeenmoreclearlydefined,onecouldforeseeanincreaseinthenewformsofpoliticalparticipation,nationallyandinternationally,thathavecomeaboutthroughtheactivityoforganizationsoperatingincivilsociety;inthiswayitistobehopedthatthecitizens'interestandparticipationintherespublicawillbecomemoredeeplyrooted.
25.Fromthesocialpointofview,systemsofprotectionandwelfare,alreadypresentinmanycountriesinPaulVI'sday,arefindingithardandcouldfinditevenharderinthefuturetopursuetheirgoalsoftruesocialjusticeintoday'sprofoundlychangedenvironment.Theglobalmarkethasstimulatedfirstandforemost,onthepartofrichcountries,asearchforareasinwhichtooutsourceproductionatlowcostwithaviewtoreducingthepricesofmanygoods,increasingpurchasingpowerandthusacceleratingtherateofdevelopmentintermsofgreateravailabilityofconsumergoodsforthedomesticmarket.Consequently,themarkethaspromptednewformsofcompetitionbetweenStatesastheyseektoattractforeignbusinessestosetupproductioncentres,bymeansofavarietyofinstruments,includingfavourablefiscalregimesandderegulationofthelabourmarket.Theseprocesseshaveledtoadownsizingofsocialsecuritysystemsasthepricetobepaidforseekinggreatercompetitiveadvantageintheglobalmarket,withconsequentgravedangerfortherightsofworkers,forfundamentalhumanrightsandforthesolidarityassociatedwiththetraditionalformsofthesocialState.Systemsofsocialsecuritycanlosethecapacitytocarryouttheirtask,bothinemergingcountriesandinthosethatwereamongtheearliesttodevelop,aswellasinpoorcountries.Herebudgetarypolicies,withcutsinsocialspendingoftenmadeunderpressurefrominternationalfinancialinstitutions,canleavecitizenspowerlessinthefaceofoldandnewrisks;suchpowerlessnessisincreasedbythelackofeffectiveprotectiononthepartofworkers'associations.Throughthecombinationofsocialandeconomicchange,tradeunionorganizationsexperiencegreaterdifficultyincarryingouttheirtaskofrepresentingtheinterestsofworkers,partlybecauseGovernments,forreasonsofeconomicutility,oftenlimitthefreedomorthenegotiatingcapacityoflabourunions.Hencetraditionalnetworksofsolidarityhavemoreandmoreobstaclestoovercome.TherepeatedcallsissuedwithintheChurch'ssocialdoctrine,beginningwithRerumNovarum[60],forthepromotionofworkers'associationsthatcandefendtheirrightsmustthereforebehonouredtodayevenmorethaninthepast,asapromptandfar-sightedresponsetotheurgentneedfornewformsofcooperationattheinternationallevel,aswellasthelocallevel.
Themobilityoflabour,associatedwithaclimateofderegulation,isanimportantphenomenonwithcertainpositiveaspects,becauseitcanstimulatewealthproductionandculturalexchange.Nevertheless,uncertaintyoverworkingconditionscausedbymobilityandderegulation,whenitbecomesendemic,tendstocreatenewformsofpsychologicalinstability,givingrisetodifficultyinforgingcoherentlife-plans,includingthatofmarriage.Thisleadstosituationsofhumandecline,tosaynothingofthewasteofsocialresources.Incomparisonwiththecasualtiesofindustrialsocietyinthepast,unemploymenttodayprovokesnewformsofeconomicmarginalization,andthecurrentcrisiscanonlymakethissituationworse.Beingoutofworkordependentonpublicorprivateassistanceforaprolongedperiodunderminesthefreedomandcreativityofthepersonandhisfamilyandsocialrelationships,causinggreatpsychologicalandspiritualsuffering.Iwouldliketoremindeveryone,especiallygovernmentsengagedinboostingtheworld'seconomicandsocialassets,thattheprimarycapitaltobesafeguardedandvaluedisman,thehumanpersoninhisorherintegrity:“Manisthesource,thefocusandtheaimofalleconomicandsociallife”[61].
26.Ontheculturalplane,comparedwithPaulVI'sday,thedifferenceisevenmoremarked.Atthattimecultureswererelativelywelldefinedandhadgreateropportunitytodefendthemselvesagainstattemptstomergethemintoone.Todaythepossibilitiesofinteractionbetweencultureshaveincreasedsignificantly,givingrisetonewopeningsforinterculturaldialogue:adialoguethat,ifitistobeeffective,hastosetoutfromadeep-seatedknowledgeofthespecificidentityofthevariousdialoguepartners.Letitnotbeforgottenthattheincreasedcommercializationofculturalexchangetodayleadstoatwofolddanger.First,onemayobserveaculturaleclecticismthatisoftenassumeduncritically:culturesaresimplyplacedalongsideoneanotherandviewedassubstantiallyequivalentandinterchangeable.Thiseasilyyieldstoarelativismthatdoesnotservetrueinterculturaldialogue;onthesocialplane,culturalrelativismhastheeffectthatculturalgroupscoexistsidebyside,butremainseparate,withnoauthenticdialogueandthereforewithnotrueintegration.Secondly,theoppositedangerexists,thatofculturallevellingandindiscriminateacceptanceoftypesofconductandlife-styles.Inthiswayonelosessightoftheprofoundsignificanceofthecultureofdifferentnations,ofthetraditionsofthevariouspeoples,bywhichtheindividualdefineshimselfinrelationtolife'sfundamentalquestions[62].Whateclecticismandculturallevellinghaveincommonistheseparationofculturefromhumannature.Thus,culturescannolongerdefinethemselveswithinanaturethattranscendsthem[63],andmanendsupbeingreducedtoamereculturalstatistic.Whenthishappens,humanityrunsnewrisksofenslavementandmanipulation.
27.Lifeinmanypoorcountriesisstillextremelyinsecureasaconsequenceoffoodshortages,andthesituationcouldbecomeworse:hungerstillreapsenormousnumbersofvictimsamongthosewho,likeLazarus,arenotpermittedtotaketheirplaceattherichman'stable,contrarytothehopesexpressedbyPaulVI[64].Feedthehungry(cf.Mt25:35,37,42)isanethicalimperativefortheuniversalChurch,assherespondstotheteachingsofherFounder,theLordJesus,concerningsolidarityandthesharingofgoods.Moreover,theeliminationofworldhungerhasalso,intheglobalera,becomearequirementforsafeguardingthepeaceandstabilityoftheplanet.Hungerisnotsomuchdependentonlackofmaterialthingsasonshortageofsocialresources,themostimportantofwhichareinstitutional.Whatismissing,inotherwords,isanetworkofeconomicinstitutionscapableofguaranteeingregularaccesstosufficientfoodandwaterfornutritionalneeds,andalsocapableofaddressingtheprimaryneedsandnecessitiesensuingfromgenuinefoodcrises,whetherduetonaturalcausesorpoliticalirresponsibility,nationallyandinternationally.Theproblemoffoodinsecurityneedstobeaddressedwithinalong-termperspective,eliminatingthestructuralcausesthatgiverisetoitandpromotingtheagriculturaldevelopmentofpoorercountries.Thiscanbedonebyinvestinginruralinfrastructures,irrigationsystems,transport,organizationofmarkets,andinthedevelopmentanddisseminationofagriculturaltechnologythatcanmakethebestuseofthehuman,naturalandsocio-economicresourcesthataremorereadilyavailableatthelocallevel,whileguaranteeingtheirsustainabilityoverthelongtermaswell.Allthisneedstobeaccomplishedwiththeinvolvementoflocalcommunitiesinchoicesanddecisionsthataffecttheuseofagriculturalland.Inthisperspective,itcouldbeusefultoconsiderthenewpossibilitiesthatareopeningupthroughproperuseoftraditionalaswellasinnovativefarmingtechniques,alwaysassumingthatthesehavebeenjudged,aftersufficienttesting,tobeappropriate,respectfuloftheenvironmentandattentivetotheneedsofthemostdeprivedpeoples.Atthesametime,thequestionofequitableagrarianreformindevelopingcountriesshouldnotbeignored.Therighttofood,liketherighttowater,hasanimportantplacewithinthepursuitofotherrights,beginningwiththefundamentalrighttolife.Itisthereforenecessarytocultivateapublicconsciencethatconsidersfoodandaccesstowaterasuniversalrightsofallhumanbeings,withoutdistinctionordiscrimination[65].Itisimportant,moreover,toemphasizethatsolidaritywithpoorcountriesintheprocessofdevelopmentcanpointtowardsasolutionofthecurrentglobalcrisis,aspoliticiansanddirectorsofinternationalinstitutionshavebeguntosenseinrecenttimes.Throughsupportforeconomicallypoorcountriesbymeansoffinancialplansinspiredbysolidarity—sothatthesecountriescantakestepstosatisfytheirowncitizens'demandforconsumergoodsandfordevelopment—notonlycantrueeconomicgrowthbegenerated,butacontributioncanbemadetowardssustainingtheproductivecapacitiesofrichcountriesthatriskbeingcompromisedbythecrisis.
28.Oneofthemoststrikingaspectsofdevelopmentinthepresentdayistheimportantquestionofrespectforlife,whichcannotinanywaybedetachedfromquestionsconcerningthedevelopmentofpeoples.Itisanaspectwhichhasacquiredincreasingprominenceinrecenttimes,obligingustobroadenourconceptofpoverty[66]andunderdevelopmenttoincludequestionsconnectedwiththeacceptanceoflife,especiallyincaseswhereitisimpededinavarietyofways.
Notonlydoesthesituationofpovertystillprovokehighratesofinfantmortalityinmanyregions,butsomepartsoftheworldstillexperiencepracticesofdemographiccontrol,onthepartofgovernmentsthatoftenpromotecontraceptionandevengosofarastoimposeabortion.Ineconomicallydevelopedcountries,legislationcontrarytolifeisverywidespread,andithasalreadyshapedmoralattitudesandpraxis,contributingtothespreadofananti-birthmentality;frequentattemptsaremadetoexportthismentalitytootherStatesasifitwereaformofculturalprogress.
Somenon-governmentalOrganizationsworkactivelytospreadabortion,attimespromotingthepracticeofsterilizationinpoorcountries,insomecasesnoteveninformingthewomenconcerned.Moreover,thereisreasontosuspectthatdevelopmentaidissometimeslinkedtospecifichealth-carepolicieswhichdefactoinvolvetheimpositionofstrongbirthcontrolmeasures.Furthergroundsforconcernarelawspermittingeuthanasiaaswellaspressurefromlobbygroups,nationallyandinternationally,infavourofitsjuridicalrecognition.
Opennesstolifeisatthecentreoftruedevelopment.Whenasocietymovestowardsthedenialorsuppressionoflife,itendsupnolongerfindingthenecessarymotivationandenergytostriveforman'struegood.Ifpersonalandsocialsensitivitytowardstheacceptanceofanewlifeislost,thenotherformsofacceptancethatarevaluableforsocietyalsowitheraway[67].Theacceptanceoflifestrengthensmoralfibreandmakespeoplecapableofmutualhelp.Bycultivatingopennesstolife,wealthypeoplescanbetterunderstandtheneedsofpoorones,theycanavoidemployinghugeeconomicandintellectualresourcestosatisfytheselfishdesiresoftheirowncitizens,andinstead,theycanpromotevirtuousactionwithintheperspectiveofproductionthatismorallysoundandmarkedbysolidarity,respectingthefundamentalrighttolifeofeverypeopleandeveryindividual.
29.Thereisanotheraspectofmodernlifethatisverycloselyconnectedtodevelopment:thedenialoftherighttoreligiousfreedom.Iamnotreferringsimplytothestrugglesandconflictsthatcontinuetobefoughtintheworldforreligiousmotives,evenifattimesthereligiousmotiveismerelyacoverforotherreasons,suchasthedesirefordominationandwealth.Today,infact,peoplefrequentlykillintheholynameofGod,asbothmypredecessorJohnPaulIIandImyselfhaveoftenpubliclyacknowledgedandlamented[68].Violenceputsthebrakesonauthenticdevelopmentandimpedestheevolutionofpeoplestowardsgreatersocio-economicandspiritualwell-being.Thisappliesespeciallytoterrorismmotivatedbyfundamentalism[69],whichgeneratesgrief,destructionanddeath,obstructsdialoguebetweennationsanddivertsextensiveresourcesfromtheirpeacefulandciviluses.
Yetitshouldbeaddedthat,aswellasreligiousfanaticismthatinsomecontextsimpedestheexerciseoftherighttoreligiousfreedom,sotoothedeliberatepromotionofreligiousindifferenceorpracticalatheismonthepartofmanycountriesobstructstherequirementsforthedevelopmentofpeoples,deprivingthemofspiritualandhumanresources.Godistheguarantorofman'struedevelopment,inasmuchas,havingcreatedhiminhisimage,healsoestablishesthetranscendentdignityofmenandwomenandfeedstheirinnateyearningto“bemore”.Manisnotalostatominarandomuniverse[70]:heisGod'screature,whomGodchosetoendowwithanimmortalsoulandwhomhehasalwaysloved.Ifmanweremerelythefruitofeitherchanceornecessity,orifhehadtolowerhisaspirationstothelimitedhorizonoftheworldinwhichhelives,ifallrealityweremerelyhistoryandculture,andmandidnotpossessanaturedestinedtotranscenditselfinasupernaturallife,thenonecouldspeakofgrowth,orevolution,butnotdevelopment.WhentheStatepromotes,teaches,oractuallyimposesformsofpracticalatheism,itdeprivesitscitizensofthemoralandspiritualstrengththatisindispensableforattainingintegralhumandevelopmentanditimpedesthemfrommovingforwardwithreneweddynamismastheystrivetoofferamoregeneroushumanresponsetodivinelove[71].Inthecontextofcultural,commercialorpoliticalrelations,italsosometimeshappensthateconomicallydevelopedoremergingcountriesexportthisreductivevisionofthepersonandhisdestinytopoorcountries.Thisisthedamagethat“superdevelopment”[72]causestoauthenticdevelopmentwhenitisaccompaniedby“moralunderdevelopment”[73].
30.Inthiscontext,thethemeofintegralhumandevelopmenttakesonanevenbroaderrangeofmeanings:thecorrelationbetweenitsmultipleelementsrequiresacommitmenttofostertheinteractionofthedifferentlevelsofhumanknowledgeinordertopromotetheauthenticdevelopmentofpeoples.Oftenitisthoughtthatdevelopment,orthesocio-economicmeasuresthatgowithit,merelyrequiretobeimplementedthroughjointaction.Thisjointaction,however,needstobegivendirection,because“allsocialactioninvolvesadoctrine”[74].Inviewofthecomplexityoftheissues,itisobviousthatthevariousdisciplineshavetoworktogetherthroughanorderlyinterdisciplinaryexchange.Charitydoesnotexcludeknowledge,butratherrequires,promotes,andanimatesitfromwithin.Knowledgeisneverpurelytheworkoftheintellect.Itcancertainlybereducedtocalculationandexperiment,butifitaspirestobewisdomcapableofdirectingmaninthelightofhisfirstbeginningsandhisfinalends,itmustbe“seasoned”withthe“salt”ofcharity.Deedswithoutknowledgeareblind,andknowledgewithoutloveissterile.Indeed,“theindividualwhoisanimatedbytruecharitylaboursskilfullytodiscoverthecausesofmisery,tofindthemeanstocombatit,toovercomeitresolutely”[75].Facedwiththephenomenathatliebeforeus,charityintruthrequiresfirstofallthatweknowandunderstand,acknowledgingandrespectingthespecificcompetenceofeverylevelofknowledge.Charityisnotanaddedextra,likeanappendixtoworkalreadyconcludedineachofthevariousdisciplines:itengagesthemindialoguefromtheverybeginning.Thedemandsoflovedonotcontradictthoseofreason.Humanknowledgeisinsufficientandtheconclusionsofsciencecannotindicatebythemselvesthepathtowardsintegralhumandevelopment.Thereisalwaysaneedtopushfurtherahead:thisiswhatisrequiredbycharityintruth[76].Goingbeyond,however,nevermeansprescindingfromtheconclusionsofreason,norcontradictingitsresults.Intelligenceandlovearenotinseparatecompartments:loveisrichinintelligenceandintelligenceisfulloflove.
31.Thismeansthatmoralevaluationandscientificresearchmustgohandinhand,andthatcharitymustanimatetheminaharmoniousinterdisciplinarywhole,markedbyunityanddistinction.TheChurch'ssocialdoctrine,whichhas“animportantinterdisciplinarydimension”[77],canexercise,inthisperspective,afunctionofextraordinaryeffectiveness.Itallowsfaith,theology,metaphysicsandsciencetocometogetherinacollaborativeeffortintheserviceofhumanity.ItishereaboveallthattheChurch'ssocialdoctrinedisplaysitsdimensionofwisdom.PaulVIhadseenclearlythatamongthecausesofunderdevelopmentthereisalackofwisdomandreflection,alackofthinkingcapableofformulatingaguidingsynthesis[78],forwhich“aclearvisionofalleconomic,social,culturalandspiritualaspects”[79]isrequired.Theexcessivesegmentationofknowledge[80],therejectionofmetaphysicsbythehumansciences[81],thedifficultiesencounteredbydialoguebetweenscienceandtheologyaredamagingnotonlytothedevelopmentofknowledge,butalsotothedevelopmentofpeoples,becausethesethingsmakeithardertoseetheintegralgoodofmaninitsvariousdimensions.The“broadening[of]ourconceptofreasonanditsapplication”[82]isindispensableifwearetosucceedinadequatelyweighingalltheelementsinvolvedinthequestionofdevelopmentandinthesolutionofsocio-economicproblems.
32.Thesignificantnewelementsinthepictureofthedevelopmentofpeoplestodayinmanycasesdemandnewsolutions.Theseneedtobefoundtogether,respectingthelawspropertoeachelementandinthelightofanintegralvisionofman,reflectingthedifferentaspectsofthehumanperson,contemplatedthroughalenspurifiedbycharity.Remarkableconvergencesandpossiblesolutionswillthencometolight,withoutanyfundamentalcomponentofhumanlifebeingobscured.
Thedignityoftheindividualandthedemandsofjusticerequire,particularlytoday,thateconomicchoicesdonotcausedisparitiesinwealthtoincreaseinanexcessiveandmorallyunacceptablemanner[83],andthatwecontinuetoprioritizethegoalofaccesstosteadyemploymentforeveryone.Allthingsconsidered,thisisalsorequiredby“economiclogic”.Throughthesystemicincreaseofsocialinequality,bothwithinasinglecountryandbetweenthepopulationsofdifferentcountries(i.e.themassiveincreaseinrelativepoverty),notonlydoessocialcohesionsuffer,therebyplacingdemocracyatrisk,butsotoodoestheeconomy,throughtheprogressiveerosionof“socialcapital”:thenetworkofrelationshipsoftrust,dependability,andrespectforrules,allofwhichareindispensableforanyformofcivilcoexistence.
Economicsciencetellsusthatstructuralinsecuritygeneratesanti-productiveattitudeswastefulofhumanresources,inasmuchasworkerstendtoadaptpassivelytoautomaticmechanisms,ratherthantoreleasecreativity.Onthispointtoo,thereisaconvergencebetweeneconomicscienceandmoralevaluation.Humancostsalwaysincludeeconomiccosts,andeconomicdysfunctionsalwaysinvolvehumancosts.
Itshouldberememberedthatthereductionofculturestothetechnologicaldimension,evenifitfavoursshort-termprofits,inthelongtermimpedesreciprocalenrichmentandthedynamicsofcooperation.Itisimportanttodistinguishbetweenshort-andlong-termeconomicorsociologicalconsiderations.Loweringthelevelofprotectionaccordedtotherightsofworkers,orabandoningmechanismsofwealthredistributioninordertoincreasethecountry'sinternationalcompetitiveness,hindertheachievementoflastingdevelopment.Moreover,thehumanconsequencesofcurrenttendenciestowardsashort-termeconomy—sometimesveryshort-term—needtobecarefullyevaluated.Thisrequiresfurtheranddeeperreflectiononthemeaningoftheeconomyanditsgoals[84],aswellasaprofoundandfar-sightedrevisionofthecurrentmodelofdevelopment,soastocorrectitsdysfunctionsanddeviations.Thisisdemanded,inanycase,bytheearth'sstateofecologicalhealth;aboveallitisrequiredbytheculturalandmoralcrisisofman,thesymptomsofwhichhavebeenevidentforsometimeallovertheworld.
33.MorethanfortyyearsafterPopulorumProgressio,itsbasictheme,namelyprogress,remainsanopenquestion,madeallthemoreacuteandurgentbythecurrenteconomicandfinancialcrisis.Ifsomeareasoftheglobe,withahistoryofpoverty,haveexperiencedremarkablechangesintermsoftheireconomicgrowthandtheirshareinworldproduction,otherzonesarestilllivinginasituationofdeprivationcomparabletothatwhichexistedatthetimeofPaulVI,andinsomecasesonecanevenspeakofadeterioration.ItissignificantthatsomeofthecausesofthissituationwereidentifiedinPopulorumProgressio,suchasthehightariffsimposedbyeconomicallydevelopedcountries,whichstillmakeitdifficultfortheproductsofpoorcountriestogainafootholdinthemarketsofrichcountries.Othercauses,however,mentionedonlyinpassingintheEncyclical,havesinceemergedwithgreaterclarity.Acaseinpointwouldbetheevaluationoftheprocessofdecolonization,thenatitsheight.PaulVIhopedtoseethejourneytowardsautonomyunfoldfreelyandinpeace.Morethanfortyyearslater,wemustacknowledgehowdifficultthisjourneyhasbeen,bothbecauseofnewformsofcolonialismandcontinueddependenceonoldandnewforeignpowers,andbecauseofgraveirresponsibilitywithintheverycountriesthathaveachievedindependence.
Theprincipalnewfeaturehasbeentheexplosionofworldwideinterdependence,commonlyknownasglobalization.PaulVIhadpartiallyforeseenit,buttheferociouspaceatwhichithasevolvedcouldnothavebeenanticipated.Originatingwithineconomicallydevelopedcountries,thisprocessbyitsnaturehasspreadtoincludealleconomies.Ithasbeentheprincipaldrivingforcebehindtheemergencefromunderdevelopmentofwholeregions,andinitselfitrepresentsagreatopportunity.Nevertheless,withouttheguidanceofcharityintruth,thisglobalforcecouldcauseunprecedenteddamageandcreatenewdivisionswithinthehumanfamily.Hencecharityandtruthconfrontuswithanaltogethernewandcreativechallenge,onethatiscertainlyvastandcomplex.Itisaboutbroadeningthescopeofreasonandmakingitcapableofknowinganddirectingthesepowerfulnewforces,animatingthemwithintheperspectiveofthat“civilizationoflove”whoseseedGodhasplantedineverypeople,ineveryculture.
******
[55]Cf.EncyclicalLetter,SollicitudoReiSocialis,28:loc.cit.,548-550.
[56]PaulVI,EncyclicalLetterPopulorumProgressio,9:loc.cit.,261-262.
[57]Cf.EncyclicalLetterSollicitudoReiSocialis,20:loc.cit.,536-537.
[58]Cf.JohnPaulII,EncyclicalLetterCentesimusAnnus,22-29:loc.cit.,819-830.
[59]Cf.nos.23,33:loc.cit.,268-269,273-274.
[60]Cf.loc.cit.,135.
[61]SecondVaticanEcumenicalCouncil,PastoralConstitutionontheChurchintheModernWorldGaudiumetSpes,63.
[62]Cf.JohnPaulII,EncyclicalLetterCentesimusAnnus,24:loc.cit.,821-822.
[63]Cf.JohnPaulII,EncyclicalLetterVeritatisSplendor(6August1993),33,46,51:AAS85(1993),1160,1169-1171,1174-1175;Id.,AddresstotheAssemblyoftheUnitedNations,5October1995,3.
[64]Cf.EncyclicalLetterPopulorumProgressio,47:loc.cit.,280-281;JohnPaulII,EncyclicalLetterSollicitudoReiSocialis,42:loc.cit.,572-574.
[65]Cf.BenedictXVI,Messageforthe2007WorldFoodDay:AAS99(2007),933-935.
[66]Cf.JohnPaulII,EncyclicalLetterEvangeliumVitae,18,59,63-64:loc.cit.,419-421,467-468,472-475.
[67]Cf.BenedictXVI,Messageforthe2007WorldDayofPeace,5.
[68]Cf.JohnPaulII,Messageforthe2002WorldDayofPeace,4-7,12-15:AAS94(2002),134-136,138-140;Id.,Messageforthe2004WorldDayofPeace,8:AAS96(2004),119;Id.,Messageforthe2005WorldDayofPeace,4:AAS97(2005),177-178;BenedictXVI,Messageforthe2006WorldDayofPeace,9-10:AAS98(2006),60-61;Id.,Messageforthe2007WorldDayofPeace,5,14:loc.cit.,778,782-783.
[69]Cf.JohnPaulII,Messageforthe2002WorldDayofPeace,6:loc.cit.,135;BenedictXVI,Messageforthe2006WorldDayofPeace,9-10:loc.cit.,60-61.
[70]Cf.BenedictXVI,HomilyatMass,IslingerFeld,Regensburg,12September2006.
[71]Cf.BenedictXVI,EncyclicalLetterDeusCaritasEst,1:loc.cit.,217-218.
[72]JohnPaulII,EncyclicalLetterSollicitudoReiSocialis,28:loc.cit.,548-550.
[73]PaulVI,EncyclicalLetterPopulorumProgressio,19:loc.cit.,266-267.
[74]Ibid.,39:loc.cit.,276-277.
[75]Ibid.,75:loc.cit.,293-294.
[76]Cf.BenedictXVI,EncyclicalLetterDeusCaritasEst,28:loc.cit.,238-240.
[77]JohnPaulII,EncyclicalLetterCentesimusAnnus,59:loc.cit.,864.
[78]Cf.EncyclicalLetterPopulorumProgressio,40,85:loc.cit.,277,298-299.
[79]Ibid.,13:loc.cit.,263-264.
[80]Cf.JohnPaulII,EncyclicalLetterFidesetRatio(14September1998),85:AAS91(1999),72-73.
[81]Cf.ibid.,83:loc.cit.,70-71.
[82]BenedictXVI,AddressattheUniversityofRegensburg,12September2006.
[83]Cf.PaulVI,EncyclicalLetterPopulorumProgressio,33:loc.cit.,273-274.
[84]Cf.JohnPaulII,Messageforthe2000WorldDayofPeace,15:AAS92(2000),366.