The Social Message of John Paul II’s Encyclicals in the Implementation of Horizontal Principles in EU Projects

Abstract

As it is indicated by the analysis of source documents and literature of the subject, John Paul II can be considered a proponent of human rights, which has been expressed in particular in his numerous works. During his pontificate, Pope John Paul II issued many encyclicals and other documents in which he discussed the issues ad naturam of human rights in many aspects (not only in the context of the teaching of the Catholic Church), including pointing to the essential social and individual value of human dignity, freedom and social justice for a particular man. The issue of social values is at the same time the essence of horizontal principles, which should be implemented for the benefit of society in connection with the implementation of projects co-financed from European Union funds. Although the strategic documents of the EU, which specify the concept of “horizontal principles”, do not directly indicate the inspiration of the achievements of John Paul II’s social thought, in the opinion of the authors, the requirement to implement horizontal principles in EU projects is part of the essence of the message of papal encyclicals.