Urges Social Sciences Academy to See Principles' Link to GodVATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Faith in the Trinity enlightens the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity proposed by Catholic social doctrine, says Benedict XVI.
The Pope affirmed this Saturday when he addressed participants in the plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. Their meeting is focused on "Pursuing the Common Good: How Solidarity and Subsidiarity Can Work Together." It began Friday and continues through Tuesday.
"How can solidarity and subsidiarity work together in the pursuit of the common good in a way that not only respects human dignity, but allows it to flourish?" the Holy Father asked. "This is the heart of the matter which concerns you."
And though certain elements can help to understand these concepts, he said, "the solidarity that binds the human family, and the subsidiary levels reinforcing it from within, must however always be placed within the horizon of the mysterious life of the Triune God, in whom we perceive an ineffable love shared by equal, though nonetheless distinct, Persons."
He continued: "My friends, I invite you to allow this fundamental truth to permeate your reflections: not only in the sense that the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity are undoubtedly enriched by our belief in the Trinity, but particularly in the sense that these principles have the potential to place men and women on the path to discovering their definitive, supernatural destiny.
"The natural human inclination to live in community is confirmed and transformed by the 'oneness of Spirit,' which God has bestowed upon his adopted sons and daughters.
"Consequently, the responsibility of Christians to work for peace and justice, their irrevocable commitment to build up the common good, is inseparable from their mission to proclaim the gift of eternal life to which God has called every man and woman."
Serving all people
Benedict XVI explained that with faith, it is possible to see that "the heavenly and earthly cities interpenetrate and are intrinsically ordered to one another, inasmuch as they both belong to God the Father."
"At the same time," he continued, "faith places into sharper focus the due autonomy of earthly affairs, insofar as they are 'endowed with their own stability, truth, goodness, proper laws and order.'"
The Pope affirmed to the pontifical academy that "you can be assured that your discussions will be of service to all people of good will, while simultaneously inspiring Christians to embrace more readily their obligation to enhance solidarity with and among their fellow citizens, and to act upon the principle of subsidiarity by promoting family life, voluntary associations, private initiative, and a public order that facilitates the healthy functioning of society's most basic communities."
Horizontal and vertical
The Holy Father further noted that the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity are not simply "horizontal."
"They both have an essentially vertical dimension," he said. "[T]rue solidarity -- though it begins with an acknowledgment of the equal worth of the other -- comes to fulfillment only when I willingly place my life at the service of the other. Herein lies the 'vertical' dimension of solidarity: I am moved to make myself less than the other so as to minister to his or her needs."
"Similarly, subsidiarity," the Pontiff continued, "insofar as it encourages men and women to enter freely into life-giving relationships with those to whom they are most closely connected and upon whom they most immediately depend, and demands of higher authorities respect for these relationships -- manifests a 'vertical' dimension pointing toward the Creator of the social order."
"When those responsible for the public good attune themselves to the natural human desire for self-governance based on subsidiarity," he added, "they leave space for individual responsibility and initiative, but most importantly, they leave space for love, which always remains 'the most excellent way."
"As you strive to articulate the ways in which men and women can best promote the common good, I encourage you to survey both the 'vertical' and 'horizontal' dimensions of solidarity and subsidiarity," the Pope concluded. "In this way, you will be able to propose more effective ways of resolving the manifold problems besetting mankind at the threshold of the third millennium, while also bearing witness to the primacy of love, which transcends and fulfills justice as it draws mankind into the very life of God."
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