Pope Leo XIV has urged Catholics to use their daily work and activities to promote human dignity, care for others and the common good.
The Pope made the remarks while continuing his catechetical series on the Second Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et spes.
“Revolutionary advances in science and technology in the past century have led some to assume that belief in God is now obsolete, and that true human autonomy can be affirmed only by emancipation from God,” Pope Leo said.
Pope Leo said major advances in science and technology over the past century had led some people to believe that faith in God was no longer necessary and that true human freedom could only be achieved by separating from God.
However, he said the Council Fathers taught that human achievements in science, technology and other areas are signs of God’s greatness and part of his plan for humanity.
The Pope stressed that the Gospel does not prevent Christians from taking part in society. Instead, he said, the Christian message calls believers to contribute to the true development and well-being of humanity.
“Let us carry out our daily activities with true charity, offering our work to the Lord both as a means for personal sanctification and as an expression of our desire ever more fully to bring about God’s kingdom,” Pope Leo said.
He encouraged Catholics to put this teaching into practice by working for the common good, caring for people in need and defending human dignity.
