This split between the faith which many profess and their daily lives deserves to be counted among the more serious errors of our age. ... The Christian who neglects his temporal duties, neglects his duties toward his neighbour and even God, and jeopardises his eternal salvation.

This council exhorts Christians, as citizens of two cities, to strive to discharge their earthly duties conscientiously and in response to the gospel spirit. ...

The Church shares with the people of our time this profound and ardent desire for a life which is just in every aspect, nor does she fail to examine the various aspects of the sort of justice that the life of people and society demands. ... On the lines of this teaching proceed the education and formation of human consciences in the spirit of justice ...

... The experience of the past and of our own time demonstrates that justice alone is not enough, that it can even lead to the negation and destruction of itself, if that deeper power, which is love, is not allowed to shape life in its various dimensions.

... this council lays stress on reverence for all; everyone must consider every neighbour without exception as another self, taking into account first of all life and the means necessary to living it with dignity, so as not to imitate the rich man who had no concern for the poor man Lazarus.

... many Catholics ... could in no way convince themselves that so enormous and unjust an inequality in the distribution of this world’s goods truly conform to the designs of the all-wise Creator.

... The practice of penance should emphasise the social dimension of sin and of the sacrament.

... the superfluous goods of wealthier nations ought to be placed at the disposal of poorer nations. ... Continuing avarice [on the part of wealthier nations] will arouse the judgement of God and the wrath of the poor, with consequences no one can foresee. If prosperous nations continue to be jealous of their own advantage alone, they will jeopardise their highest values, sacrificing the pursuit of excellence to the acquisition of possessions.

Here I would like to indicate ... : the option or love of preference for the poor. This is an option or a special form of primacy in the exercise of Christian charity to which the whole tradition of the church bears witness. It affects the life of each Christian inasmuch as he or she seeks to imitate the life of Christ, but it applies equally to our social responsibilities and hence to our manner of living, and to the logical decisions to be made concerning the ownership and use of goods.