Italian
The International Conference organized by the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation titled “A Fragmented World in Search of Spirituality: Freedom and Pluralism in the Social Doctrine of the Church” took place at the end of May in the New Aula of the Synod in the Vatican.
VATICAN CITY. The event brought together scholars, economists, representatives of institutions, members of the ecclesiastical world, and civil society to reflect on the challenges facing the contemporary global context, marked by conflicts, polarization, and profound social transformations.
Among the speakers at the conference was Philip Jennings, former General Secretary of UNI Global Union, an international trade union organization present in over 160 countries. On the sidelines of the meeting, Jennings explored the relationship between spirituality, social justice, and the future of work in an era marked by increasing social fragmentation and technological revolution.
“Spirituality gives meaning to the commitment to the common good”
Interviewed after his speech, Jennings emphasized that union action cannot be limited to merely defending the economic interests of workers, but requires a broader vision of society and human dignity.
“Being part of the trade union family means having a worldview,” he explained. “The Church’s social doctrine represents a fundamental reference because it emphasizes the need to work for the common good, for social justice, and for people’s participation in decisions that affect their lives.”
Referring to the principle of subsidiarity, Jennings highlighted how the ability to transfer responsibilities and decision-making processes to workplaces and communities constitutes not only an organizational tool but also a concrete form of spiritual support. “One must believe in what they do. It is necessary to have the ambition to change the world and improve people’s lives.”
Compassion, ethics, and courage: the qualities of authentic leadership
For Jennings, spirituality translates primarily into concrete attitudes: compassion, ethics, attention to others, and the ability to pursue the common good.
“A leader must be compassionate, ethical, and resilient,” he stated. Throughout his long international experience, the union leader has met families marked by political and social violence, parents who have lost children involved in democratic or union movements, and Palestinian families affected by war.
“I have embraced mothers and fathers who have lost their children. I have listened to their pain and tried to offer comfort. To understand the suffering of others, compassion is needed.”
From these experiences comes the belief that social change requires a positive vision of the future. “We must maintain the conviction that things can change. To fight, we need courage, commitment, and hope.”
Social Fragmentation and the Sense of Abandonment
According to Jennings, one of the main emergencies of our time is the growing fragmentation of social relationships.
“We are living in a time of great tension. There is often talk of geopolitical fragmentation, but there is also a fragmentation of people’s lives.”
A condition that fuels insecurity and loneliness. Many citizens, he observes, feel abandoned by institutions and economic processes: “Some wonder if they will be able to pay the bills by the end of the week or if their children will have a better future. A sense of abandonment is spreading.”
The answer, in his opinion, lies in collective organization and participation. “People need to rediscover the power they possess and understand that by organizing themselves, they can change things.”
The comparison between Social Doctrine and contemporary capitalism
During the interview, the issue of the crisis of values in Western societies was also addressed, referencing the reflections of sociologist Zygmunt Bauman on the “liquid society.”
Jennings recalled that the relationship between capital and labor has always been at the center of the Church’s reflection. “Social Doctrine teaches that the worker is more important than capital.”
While recognizing the positive role of entrepreneurship and economic initiative, it warned against a view that subordinates the well-being of people to the sole pursuit of profit. “The Church is not opposed to business, but it asks that financial considerations not be placed above human dignity and well-being.”
The Challenge of Artificial Intelligence
Particularly significant was the reflection on the impact of new technologies and artificial intelligence.
According to Jennings, economic and technological power today tends to concentrate in the hands of a few large companies and a small number of individuals. “In the new world of artificial intelligence, decision-making centers are controlled by a handful of companies and a few people.”
In his opinion, the cultural visions that guide these processes often seem very distant from the principles of the Church’s Social Doctrine. “The ideology that inspires many protagonists of the digital revolution appears far from the idea of the common good and closer to models that favor individualism and deregulation.”
The risk is a gradual weakening of the social fabric and the sense of community. “The destruction of social ties and solidarity is a reality we cannot ignore.”
A new dialogue between the world of work and the Church
Looking to the future, Jennings sees the reflection promoted by the Centesimus Annus Foundation as an opportunity to revive the dialogue between the world of work and the Church.
“The time is ripe to react,” he concluded. “I would like to bring the global labor movement back to the Vatican, as happened in 2017, to discuss with Pope Leo XIV how to translate into concrete action the spirit and principles invoked by the Church’s social doctrine.”
In an international context marked by conflicts, technological transformations, and growing inequalities, Jennings’ message highlights the urgency of reclaiming a human vision of the economy and society, where spirituality, solidarity, and participation become tools for building the common good once again.
