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Rerum Novarum
- Description
The encyclical Rerum Novarum was written by Pope Leo XIII in 1859. A great part of the population at that time was involved in the industrialisation after large, widespread land-grabs had taken place, in order to set up huge factories that could produce much more products in much less time than traditional trades had hitherto. However, along with the industrialisation came new kinds of disadvantages and inhumane conditions. Pope Leo XIII addressed these issues in his encyclical – which is a kind of open letter.
The Latin term Rerum Novarum means Of New Things. An encyclical’s title always consists of the first two words of the encyclical itself. Rerum Novarum expresses the late 19th-century Catholic position on social justice, especially in relation to the problems created by the industrial revolution, but many parallels can be drawn to today’s situation.
