«DIVINI REDEMPTORIS». – Encyclical of Pius XI, dated 19 March 1937 (AAS, 29 [1937], pp. 65–106), against atheistic communism, whose principles are manifested in Bolshevism.
After recalling the Church’s consistent attitude toward communism, as it emerges from the various preceding encyclicals of Pius XI and of his predecessors, Pius XI develops the subject under the following aspects: 1) The “alleged new gospel,” under the pretext of redeeming the masses, instead presents a materialist doctrine that subverts justice, the human person and dignity, the family, society, and religion. 2) The art of proselytism: the ground prepared by amoral and secularist liberalism and by the silence of the major press readily yielded to propaganda conducted by every means: open or underhanded; explicit or cloaked in the most innocuous appearances, and nourished by an abundant press. 3) The Church’s opposing doctrine in the familial, social, and religious spheres, founded on human dignity and fraternity, and on divine filiation. 4) The remedies. The first and principal remedy is the spiritual renewal of individuals and nations in the light of the Gospel, above all in the light of the precept of love. To this must be added the study of social questions and the dissemination of Catholic teaching concerning them. 5) The co-workers: first and foremost the clergy, assisted by members of Catholic Action and by all those who have preserved the sound concept of true human coexistence. 6) The cooperation of the State, which must attend to the welfare of its citizens through a moral policy, wise and prudent administration, and recognition of the Church’s full freedom to disseminate its salutary doctrines.