Centesimus annus

Centesimus annus
Latin for 'The Hundredth Year'
Encyclical of Pope John Paul II
Coat of arms of Pope John Paul II
Signature date 1 May 1991
SubjectThe centenary of the encyclical Rerum novarum
Number9 of 14 of the pontificate
Text

Centesimus annus (Latin for "the hundredth year") is an encyclical which was written by Pope John Paul II in 1991 on the hundredth anniversary of Rerum novarum, an encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII in 1891. It is part of a larger body of writings, known as Catholic social teaching, which trace their origin to Rerum novarum and aim to relate the teachings of Jesus to the industrial age.

It was one of fourteen encyclicals issued by John Paul II. The theologian Cardinal Georges Cottier[1][2] was influential in drafting the encyclical.[3]