Rerum Novarum
Pope Leo XIII15 May 1891
The encyclical of Leo XIII on capital and labour. It rejects socialism and class war, defends private property, and teaches that workers are owed a living wage, limited hours, the protection of the state and the right to form unions.
The letter is addressed to the Catholic bishops and dated at St Peter’s on 15 May 1891. It describes the condition of industrial workers, argues against the socialist remedy of common ownership, sets out the duties of employers and employed, says when the state should intervene, and commends associations of workers.
It is the pope’s own text. Pius XI marked its fortieth anniversary with an encyclical of his own, which calls it the foundation of Christian activity in the social field.
Cited in
- 15 May 1891, firm date