Relevance of the Property Teaching of Pope Paul VI. An Ancient Teaching in a New Context

This study examines in depth the Pope Paul VI's property teaching as contained in his four major social documents: Populorum Progressio (1967); Octogesima Adveniens (1971); De Iustitia in Mundo (1971); and Evangelii Nuntiandi (1975). In each chapter, the topic is situated in its historical setting, followed by a presentation on Christian anthropology. Then a series of related topics are examined, and finally the property teaching itself is discussed under four headings: the right of ownership and the social function of property; the definition of property; the purposes of property; and the role of the state in promoting and protecting property rights.