The social teaching of the Church has developed over more than a century, in response to the questions of each age. These are some of the most important documents, all available in full on the Vatican website.

• Rerum Novarum – Pope Leo XIII, 1891: on capital, labour and the rights of workers.
• Pacem in Terris – Pope St John XXIII, 1963: on peace among all nations.
• Populorum Progressio – Pope St Paul VI, 1967: on the development of peoples.
• Laborem Exercens – Pope St John Paul II, 1981: on human work.
• Centesimus Annus – Pope St John Paul II, 1991: on society and the economy after the Cold War.
• Caritas in Veritate – Pope Benedict XVI, 2009: on integral human development in charity and truth.
• Laudato Si’ – Pope Francis, 2015: on care for our common home.
• Fratelli Tutti – Pope Francis, 2020: on fraternity and social friendship.

A complete summary is found in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.