Social justice in the teaching of John Paul II

This chapter explores the concept of social justice in the social encyclicals of Pope John Paul II, highlighting the nuanced use of justice as both a human and a divine category. Drawing an analogy to St. Paul’s approach on the Areopagus, the analysis shows that John Paul II addresses a pluralistic audience, adopting both the language of human rights and the language of religious commandments. Human justice is rooted in the respect for rights and dignity, while divine justice is tied to the fulfillment of God’s will, love, and mercy. The author examines how these dimensions interweave throughout John Paul II’s key social documents—“Redemptor hominis”, “Laborem exercens”, “Sollicitudo rei socialis”, and “Centesimus annus”—where justice is discussed within ethical-juridical, social, and theological frameworks. The papal teaching emphasizes social solidarity and the common good, extending justice from legal fairness to a moral surplus realized in love and self-giving. The analysis reveals that true social justice, for John Paul II, occurs where the defense of rights is integrated with an active commitment to fraternity, reconciliation, and the transformation of individuals and societies in the spirit of the Gospel.