Solidarity and Justice
Solidarity is one of the important principles of the Social Doctrines of the Church. It calls for the common responsibility for the good of every person. In other words, Solidarity is not a feeling of vague comparison or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people. It is a firm and preserving determination to commit oneself to the common good. We are all truly responsible for all. Solidarity is therefore, a most important requirement of the moral order; it is a virtue.[1] As pope Benedict XVI writes in Caritas in Veritate, “Solidarity is first and foremost a sense of responsibility on the part of everyone with regard to everyone.”[2]
When we reflect on the questions like, how to implement solidarity in globalization? what is the relationship between solidarity and justice? And what policies can integrate this principle? it appropriate to quote the Populorum Progression where Pope Paul VI writes “development is the new name for peace.”[3] Solidarity is therefore, implied in global development efforts for justice.
To implement solidarity in globalization and to find the relationship between solidarity and justice it better to remember the words of Pope Paul VI again:
Nations are the architects of their own development, and they must bear the burden of this work; but they cannot accomplish it if they live in isolation from others. Regional mutual aid agreements among the poorer nations, broader based programs of support for these nations, major alliances between nations to coordinate these activities—these are the road signs that point the way to national development and world peace.[4]
Given this understanding about the Solidarity and Justice, we are also reminded of the appeal of Pope Leo XIV at the first Regina Coeli to end the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and on the India/Pakistan border.[5] War is not the solution rather it can simply damage the development and peace by killing the poor and innocent people. The spirit of justice can not be found in war. The true national security lies not in weapons or borders, but in shared common good. “We are either all saved together, or none are saved.”[6]
Pope Francis calls the church to be a bridge of peace and dialogue in a fractured world through his landmark encyclical Fratelli Tutti. But, the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir India wherein around 30 innocent lives were assaulted and the conflicts between these two nations thereafter killing numerous people, demonstrate a stark contrast to the vision of pope Francis even before his burial in peace. These incidents strongly communicate that the nations still need to learn a deeper sense of call to be “Brothers of all people”, by keeping the spirit of solidarity and justice.
[1] JOHN PAUL, lettera enciclica Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 30 Decembre 1987, n. 36-38.
[2] BENEDICT XVI, lettera enciclica Caritas in Veritate, 29 Giugno 2009, n. 38.
[3] PAUL VI, lettera enciclica Populorum Progressio,26 Marzo 1967, n. 76.
[4] Ivi, 77.
[5] Pope Leo XIV at Regina Coeli: Never again war! – Vatican News, 11 Maggio 2025.
[6] FRANCESCO, lettera enciclica Fratelli Tutti, 03 ottobre 2020, n. 137.
