Essay, Research Paper: Important Conclusions In Centessimus Annus

Important Conclusions In Centesimus Annus
The encyclical letter Centesimus Annus, was written on
the one hundredth anniversary of Pope Leo XIII encyclical
letter Rerum Novarum. Centesimus Annus was written to honor
Rerum Novarum, but to also honor the encyclicals and
documents that helped Rerum Novarum become such an important
part of history. Pope John Paul II writes that the purposes
of Centesimus Annus are to look back at Rerum Novarum, to
look at the new things that surround us, and to look to the
future for it is hard to tell what will happen in the next
millennium. Centesimus Annus has many very important points
and the Pope concludes them with lots of different reasons
on why they are so significant. Over the next few pages I
will give the three most important conclusions, do the best
to my knowledge to try and give reasons that the pope gives
to support his claims. The three conclusions range from how
a business can be successful, to the roles that businesses
have their countries to grow, and to government, businesses
and society’s role in human growth.
The first of the three important conclusions that the
pope draws upon starts with the assumption that profit is
the goal of every business and that a business is successful
if they make a profit. This is true, but according to the
pope in Centesimus Annus, the business will be truly
successful if they place more emphasis on the following
topics: placing more stress on worker to worker relations,
the dignity of work, and the developing of skills as well as
virtue. The pope first stresses his argument in section 35
saying “ It is possible for the financial accounts to be in
order a yet for the people, who make up the firms most
valuable asset, to be humiliated... the purpose of a
business firm is not simply to make profit, but is to be
found in it’s very existence as a community of persons.”
This restates his conclusion, saying that of course the
purpose is to make a profit, but the workers must all be
able to work together and be paid well, and not have their
dignity revoked.
When people work, it is somewhat of a way of expressing
themselves, showing their gifts and talents while working
together with other people. This is one of the reasons why
the dignity of work is so important in this world, as the
pope says in part 6, “ Work thus belongs to the vocation of
every person; indeed, man expresses and fulfills himself by
working. At the same time work has a social dimension
through its intimate relationship not only to family, but
also to the common good...”
When people work together, it builds up the
togetherness they have in the work place. The pope says
that people work not only for themselves but for other
people such as their families. Also people work together,
when people are working together and working with customers,
together, this expands the solidarity involved in the
economy.
To be successful of course one needs to keep developing
their virtues and skills. As the pope states in part 32 of
Centesimus Annus, some important virtues involved included
diligence, reliability and fidelity in relationships, and
courage in making tough decisions. Also since we are in a
world that is fast moving and technology is ever-changing,
we must still be furthering our education. And as the pope
exclaims in part 33,“ ..Those who fail to keep up with the
times can easily be marginalized...” This of course means
that if one doesn’t continue top grow with the times, they
can easily be replaced.



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