Rooted in Scripture and the teachings of Christ, CST is a framework that guides individuals and communities working in a Catholic community in addressing societal issues and promote human dignity. Theologically, this can be summed up in the phrase “Imago Dei”. Over the centuries many Popes have spoken out about the social issues of their day. They did this through the writing of various encyclicals which have now become known as Catholic Social Teaching. The accepted first instance can be traced to 1891 when Pope Leo X111 spoke out about the plight of oppressed workers who were demanding justice from their employers. Since then, various Popes have written on the subject. Here are some examples of CST document written by Pope Francis.
Pope Francis has written the encyclical Fratelli Tutti which is a challenge to all to see everyone as our brothers and sisters, a fundamental aspect of Catholic Social Teaching.
