Faith and Social Justice in the Teaching of Pope John Paul II

The nature of the relationship between Christian faith and social justice continues to challenge contemporary theological reflection. This study examines Pope John Paul II's understanding of the principle, first formulated in the 1971 Synod document Justice in the World, that action for social justice is an essential part of the gospel. It clearly demonstrates that John Paul's teaching on faith and social justice is rooted in his philosophical and theological anthropology, specifically his emphasis on «the person revealed in action». This study highlights the unique contribution of John Paul's vision of the person to Catholic social teaching in general and to the relationship between faith and social justice in particular.