We might sum up the Pope’s thinking on the economy this way: Each of us must answer Christ\u2019s question, “Who do you say that I am?” If we, with Peter, answer “The Messiah,” then that should direct the axis of our life. Our most important reality must be the truth of our relationships. In this way, we can understand how the law and prophets could be summed up in Christ’s two commandments: That we love God totally, and love our neighbors as ourselves. Thus we are able to speak of “caritas in veritate.”<\/p>\n
Once we accept Christ and these two commandments, we can no longer ask Cain’s question: “Am I my brother\u2019s keeper?” Instead, we must realize that our exercise of freedom cannot take the form of simply amassing the most wealth that we can. Rather, all that we do in freedom must reflect that reality and all our actions must take into account the effects of those actions on others….<\/p>\n
The Pope\u2019s thesis makes clear that an ethical foundation must transcend politics, and as the document makes explicit, the technical solutions belong to policy makers.<\/p>\n