‘The common good’: The last Pope Leo was a champion of the working poor

In 2013, when Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio became pope he chose the name Francis, a tribute to one of the most popular saints in the history of Christendom.

St. Francis of Assisi, who lived in the 13th century, was loved because of his deep devotion to the poor. Indeed, Pope Francis showed a great love for the most marginalized of this world, especially the millions of migrants who are the poorest of the world.

So what does the name Pope Leo XIV possibly indicate for this new papacy?

Pope Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903, has not been declared a saint, but his influence on the Church and the world was immense. He, too, showed a great concern for working people everywhere who slaved away for a mere pittance and had little time for family or even to worship God. They were in many ways the dross of the Industrial Revolution, who, along with poor pay, were subject to the illnesses and diseases spewed out by factories.

If his new name is something to go by, we might expect our new Pope to also show great concern for those who labour under the dark cloud of exploitation.

On May 15, 1891, Leo promulgated the encyclical Rerum Novarum, which translates to “Of New Things.” For Catholics, and any observer of the plight of labour, the encyclical was considered — and still is — a landmark document on worker rights.

Last month, Fr. Joe Connelly wrote a beautiful essay on the Catholic website Guardian Angels in praise of Rerum Novarum, a document that was not just relevant to conditions in the late 19th century but to many parts of the world today.

“During an era marked by the rise of capitalism and the exploitation of labor, Pope Leo XIII boldly defended the rights of workers and the sanctity of the family,” he wrote.

“Rerum Novarum emphasized the importance of just wages, decent working conditions, and the rights of laborers to organize for their mutual benefit. Rejecting the extremes of unchecked capitalism and socialism, the encyclical called for a balanced approach that respects both the rights of workers and the principles of private property.”

He notes that the encyclical underscored the Catholic principle of “subsidiarity,” which reminded smaller groups in society to address social needs.

“Rather than relying solely on the state, the encyclical emphasizes the responsibilities of families, local entities, and voluntary associations in caring for the vulnerable and promoting the common good. This principle remains as relevant today as it was in Pope Leo XIII’s time, guiding Catholics in their efforts to foster solidarity and build thriving societies.”

The encyclical urged the owners of capital to give their workers decent pay, shorter workdays and workweeks, so that those who laboured would have time to spend with families and in worship.

Pope Leo XIII also told workers that they had the right to form unions in order to become a collective force in dealing with management.

At the heart of Catholic social teaching, of which Rerum Novarum is likely the greatest document, the emphasis is on moral values and the dignity of the human person.

In 2011, when I was the religion reporter for the National Post, I interviewed Thomas E. Woods, a conservative Catholic and libertarian, and author of How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization.

Many at the time of Pope Leo XIII, and even today, thought the encyclical smacked of socialism. Woods said that was never the case: “The Church is categorically opposed to socialism. Leo XIII said the right of private property is sacred and inviolable. Those are his words. That’s totally incompatible with socialism.”

Rather, Woods said, Pope Leo XIII was reminding Catholics and others that they have a responsibility to those around them.

“We’ve come to look to the state for so many aspects of life, we just instinctively think that anything that is important is something the state has to do,” Woods said. “Benedict XVI and John Paul II have both said the welfare state can have an enervating effect on people and communities because it leads us to think that we have no responsibility toward other people because the state will take care of it. That’s not good for anybody’s soul.”

Charles Lewis was the National Post’s religion reporter from 2007 to 2013. He is also this year’s recipient of the Archbishop Adam Exner Award, given by the (Canadian) Catholic Civil Rights League for “Catholic Excellence in Public Life.”

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