In the seminary’s next Archbishop Ireland Lecture, Msgr. Martin Schlag, endowed chair for Catholic social thought at the University of St. Thomas, will explore a fresh perspective on Pope Pius XI’s vision of society’s essential institutions, building on Pope Leo XIII’s legacy and proposing a fourth pillar: the world of work and economic exchange.
This theme connects closely with Rerum Novarum, the landmark Church document on labor and social justice recently highlighted by the election and name choice of Pope Leo XIV. The talk will set the scene historically, showing how Catholic social teaching evolved from earlier legal and political debates to universal principles that continue to guide the Church today. Along the way, Schlag will draw links from Rerum Novarum to later papal writings, including Pope Paul VI’s Octogesima Adveniens, which helped lay the groundwork for modern Catholic social thought.
