Pope Pius XII on the Economic Order

by Rupert J. Ederer

Overview

In Pope Pius XII on the Economic Order, economist Rupert J. Ederer explores the views of Eugenio Pacelli, who served as pope during the tumultuous period of 1939 to 1958. Prodigious in his output, Pius XII produced 40 encyclicals, 19 highly regarded Christmas messages, and series of addresses to groups and organizations, laying the groundwork for the economic views of his successors.

According to Ederer, it "is safe to say that no Roman pontiff has addressed the problems confronting the social order as frequently and as widely outside the formal structure of encyclicals as Pius XII. This applies in a special way to his masterful and prophetic Christmas Messages." Through the study of Pius XII's encyclicals and Christmas messages, Ederer examines this important pontiff's views on economics and the social order, the world of work, agriculture and farmers, food and population, the middle class, and the world of money and finance.

Students and scholars interested in the history of Pius XII's papacy will find in Ederer's analysis an insightful study of Catholic economic thought during an era when nations representing the forces of capitalism, fascism, and Communism were joined in a fierce battle for dominance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810877979
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	06/06/2011
Series:	Catholic Social Thought , #3
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Rupert J. Ederer is professor emeritus of the State University of New York in Buffalo. He is the author of Economics as if God Matters (Scarecrow, 2011).

Table of Contents

Foreword Sr. Margherita Marchione xi

Acknowledgments xiii

1 An Age of Great Popes 1

2 Encyclicals 9

3 The Christmas Messages 23

4 On Economics and the Economic Order 53

5 Pius XII on the World of Work 109

6 On Agriculture and Farmers 171

7 Pius XII on Food and Population 195

8 The Middle Class 207

9 The World of Money and Finance 221

10 Various Topics 235

11 Conclusion: A Springtime of History 263

Bibliography 269

Index 271

About the Author 277

Editorial Reviews

Pope Pius XII on the Economic Order is a useful contribution to the literature on his social thought.

Journal Of Religious History

Pope Pius XII on the Economic Order was a genuine education. Pius XII promulgated forty-one encyclicals during his pontificate (1939–1958)…. Ederer divides his study into eleven chapters. He treats the encyclicals of Pius XII, the Christmas messages, and a range of issues including the economic order, the world of work, agriculture, population, the middle class, and finance. Ederer provides helpful summaries of the social teaching of Pius XII on many specific topics. In many cases, the issues seem entirely relevant more than sixty years later: the responsible entrepreneur, accident prevention in industry, ideals for business, women and work, and many other topics. One of the most delightful aspects of reading this book is the sense that modern Catholic social teaching is a deeply rooted tradition, and that issues discussed at the Second Vatican Council and afterward were very much being discussed prior to the Council.

Catholic Social Science Review

Pope Pius XII on the Economic Order was a genuine education. Pius XII promulgated forty-one encyclicals during his pontificate (1939-1958).... Ederer divides his study into eleven chapters. He treats the encyclicals of Pius XII, the Christmas messages, and a range of issues including the economic order, the world of work, agriculture, population, the middle class, and finance. Ederer provides helpful summaries of the social teaching of Pius XII on many specific topics. In many cases, the issues seem entirely relevant more than sixty years later: the responsible entrepreneur, accident prevention in industry, ideals for business, women and work, and many other topics. One of the most delightful aspects of reading this book is the sense that modern Catholic social teaching is a deeply rooted tradition, and that issues discussed at the Second Vatican Council and afterward were very much being discussed prior to the Council.--Catholic Social Science Review

Pope Pius XII on the Economic Order is a useful contribution to the literature on his social thought.--Journal Of Religious History

From the Publisher