Pope Benedict XVI’s speech to members of the CISL

(January 31, 2009) At the dawn of the twentieth century, with the encyclical Rerum Novarurn, Pope Leo XIII made a heartfelt defence of the inalienable dignity of workers. The guidelines ideals contained in that document, helped to strengthen the Christian animation of social life, and this led to, among other things, the birth and consolidation of a number of civil initiatives, such as centres of social studies, the company workers, cooperatives and trade unions, said Pope Benedict XVI. He was addressing the Confederation of the Worker’s Labour Union popularly known as CISL, on Saturday 31^st of January at Rome. Extending his reflections on the same encyclical John Paul II wanted to solemnize the hundredth anniversary by publishing the Centesimus Annus, in which he notes that the social doctrine of the Church, especially in this period history, sees the man inserted into the complex web of relationships that is typical of modern societies. Only faith fully revealed his true identity is the basis of the Church's social doctrine, which assists man in the path of salvation, said the Holy Father. The Pope then added saying, there is another element that returns frequently in the teaching of the Popes of the twentieth century and is the call to solidarity and responsibility. To overcome the economic and social crisis we are experiencing, we know that we need a free and responsible effort on the part of all. There should be proper coordination between various components of the Society. The Church, said the Pope, which appreciates the crucial role of trade unions, is close to each one of them always and is ready to help them to fulfil their job better in society.