Rerum novarum

Rerum Novarum is an important letter written by Pope Leo XIII in 1891. It is about the rights and duties of workers and employers. The title means "Of New Things" in Latin. This letter is also called an encyclical, which is a letter sent by the Pope to the Catholic Church.

 Background 
During the 1800s, many people were moving from the countryside to cities because of the Industrial Revolution. They worked in factories under poor conditions. Many workers were very poor and did not have enough rights. Some people thought socialism was the answer, but the Pope wanted to offer a different idea based on Catholic teachings.

 Main ideas 
Rerum Novarum talks about several important issues:
 Workers’ rights: Workers should be treated fairly. They should get a fair wage and have good working conditions. They should not be forced to work too many hours.
 Right to private property: People have the right to own property. The Church says this is natural and good.
 Duties of workers and employers: Workers should do their jobs honestly. Employers should treat workers with respect and fairness.
 Role of the state: The government should protect people’s rights. It should help poor people but not control everything. The state should make sure that workers and employers follow justice.
 Trade unions: Workers have the right to form groups, like unions, to protect their interests. These groups can help fight for fair wages and working conditions.

The Pope also warned against socialism, which wants to take away private property. He said socialism is not the right answer.

 Importance 
Rerum Novarum is the first major Catholic document about social and economic issues. It began what is called Catholic Social Teaching. Many Popes after Leo XIII have written similar letters, building on these ideas. Some of them are:
 Quadragesimo Anno (1931) by Pope Pius XI.
 Mater et Magistra (1961) and Pacem in Terris (1963) by Pope John XXIII.
 Populorum Progressio (1967) and Octogesima Adveniens (1971) by Pope Paul VI.
 Laborem Exercens (1981), Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (1987), and Centesimus Annus (1991) by Pope John Paul II.

Rerum Novarum helped shape how the Catholic Church thinks about economics, work, and the rights of people.

 Other websites 
 Rerum novarum – full text and official English translation from the Vatican's official website
 Rerum novarum – an exposition with guided readings (4.2) at VPlater Project: online modules on Catholic Social Teaching

Category:1891
Category:19th-century documents
Category:1891 works
Category:Pope Leo XIII