Caritas in veritate

"Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness by his earthly life and especially by his death and resurrection, is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity. Love — caritas — is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. It is a force that has its origin in God, Eternal Love and Absolute Truth."

With these words Pope Benedict XVI begins his third encyclical, Caritas in veritate. Use the resources here to explore this significant document more closely.

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What the Document Says

• Text (English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish)
• Key Concepts
• Articles by Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl
  1. Pope Benedict XVI’s Reflection on the Church’s Social Teaching
  2. New Perspectives on Integral Human Development
• Outline by John Carr, US Conference of Catholic Bishops

Learning and Living Caritas in veritate
Resources from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

• Small Group Study Guides
  1. Charity, Justice and the Common Good
  2. Human Rights and Duties
  3. Morality in Economic Life
  4. The Unity of the Human Family and Global Solidarity
• Action Guide
• Individual Reflection Guide

Additional Parish Resources

• Homily Helps for September 2009
• Minute Meditations - for bulletins, newsletters and websites