Laborem exercens

Laborem exercens (Latin: Through Work) is an encyclical written by Pope John Paul II in 1981, on human work. It is part of the larger body of Catholic social teaching, which traces its origin to Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical Rerum novarum. It had become customary for popes to publish new writings on social issues at ten-year intervals since Rerum novarum, in order to develop the teachings in concert with the evolving social context as a result of the industrial and political revolutions of the 20th Century. Laborem exercens was written in honor of the 90th anniversary, and makes reference to Rerum novarum and to several of the subsequent writings. The pope was not able to issue the document on the May 15 anniversary because of the assassination attempt two days earlier. He published Laborem exercens a few months later, in September 1981. Some of the trends mentioned by John-Paul II within the encyclical are: Increased use of technology, especially information technology, which John Paul predicted would bring changes comparable to the industrial revolution of the previous century. Environmental issues. The pope noted that some resources, particularly oil, were becoming scarce. Also, the need to protect the environment was becoming apparent. People in the developing world wanted to be more involved in the global economy. John Paul welcomed this trend, but feared it would bring unemployment for many skilled workers as work was distributed more widely. Not mentioned in the encyclical, but surely in John Paul’s mind as he addressed the question of work, was the foundation of Solidarity, an independent trade union with strong Catholic roots, in his native Poland in 1980. John Paul knew Lech Wałęsa, Solidarity’s founder, and had met with him more than once during a homecoming visit in 1979. Laborem exercens begins with a scriptural argument that work is more than just an activity or a commodity, but an essential part of human nature. The Church finds in the very first pages of the Book of Genesis the source of her conviction that work is a fundamental dimension of human existence on earth.