Nowhere is this more evident than in the pope's writings on social morality and the economy. Dulles faithfully reproduces the pontiff's thought on this complex and controversial subject, presenting a summary of papal teaching that is, like the teaching itself, devoid of ideological platitudes. John Paul approaches the economy through the lens of the human person. This recognition might be taken as his affirmation of the notion of human capital, an idea that promotes the view that human beings are productive contributors rather than just economic consumers. The pope also stresses the intransitive aspect of human labor, i.e., the transformative effect that work has on the human subject.
Dulles demonstrates the central importance of solidarity in the pope's social vision.
It can be seen, for instance, how his belief that human self-fulfillment occurs only through interaction with others would lend itself to the concept of solidarity. If readers are looking for an interpretive essay on the pope's theology, this book will disappoint. While Dulles provides insight into the pope's thought, his main accomplishment is tying together the disparate threads of John Paul's writings into a coherent whole. On that score, Dulles succeeds marvelously. The book is, therefore, a valuable contribution and will be of use primarily for two audiences.