WHEREAS, in 1891, Pope Leo XIII issued the landmark encyclical Rerum Novarum (Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor), which fundamentally shaped international social justice teachings by addressing the harsh working conditions following the Industrial Revolution; and
WHEREAS, Pope Leo XIII championed foundational workers’ rights, including the rights to a fair wage, safe working conditions, form a labor union, and the necessity of rest and respect for religious obligations; and
WHEREAS, Cardinal Robert Prevost chose his papal name, Leo, to honor Pope Leo XIII and prioritize the rights of workers and the needs of the poor, reaffirming the Catholic Church’s purpose of working toward justice and dignity for everyone; and
WHEREAS, Pope Leo XIV is the second Roman Pontiff from the Americas, born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Pope Leo XIV’s roots in Chicago and mission of service to the working people embodies the values and principals of Chicago’s labor movement;
WHEREAS, the Chicago Federation of Labor organized a Labor Pilgrimage comprised of affiliate union members and leaders to Rome; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago Federation of Labor met with the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, the Association of Italian Christian Workers (ACLI), the Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (CGIL) and with Fr. Manny Dorantes—Borgo Laudato Si in Castel Gandolfo; and
WHEREAS, the cohort engaged in enlightening discussions on the intersection of faith and labor, identifying how to address modern day labor issues.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the AFL-CIO hereby honors Pope Leo XIV as an ally to labor for his commitment to address working class issues and for his global fight for social and economic justice; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles of Rerum Novarum, advocating for policies that uphold the rights and dignity of all workers.