Pope Saint John Paul II on social justice in human work

Abstract

In contemporary societies, the issues of industrialization and successive globalization have been affecting deeply the reality and true meaning of human work. The objective dimension of work became more important than the subjective. In contrast, Pope Saint John Paul II affirms that man is “the subject of work” and not merely an object. The human person “performs various actions belonging to the work process; independently of their objective content, these actions must all serve to realize his humanity” (LE. 6), which refers to the eminent subjective dimension of work rooted in the dignity of the worker as person. A lot of research and many interpretations of Pope Saint John Paul II’s innovative teaching in this regard have been proposed and discussed. This study presents how he responded to the signs of his time, by deepening and further developing theology of work that is fundamentally grounded in Scripture, Tradition, and the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church. He demonstrates in depth and extent in his teaching the relevance of social justice as a moral principle by fully respecting human dignity in work, for human beings as subject of work are fundamentally understood as being created in the image and likeness of God.