By this I am not saying that all non-Christian citizens are unworthy or incompetent, nor that all of you should take part every day in the political debates. For many people – the majority – it will suffice that they have clear criteria on all issues that affect the Church, that they can give sane doctrine (which is not political but religious) to their friends and companions, and finally, that they carry out their civic duties in an upright fashion whenever the government of the country asks it.

Some members may have a vocation for public life

Some, on the other hand, will have a natural inclination to dedicate themselves to politics. But they will not do so like those careerist politicians, who pursue expediency and compromise just to hold an office and be able to live off the public life of their country, ready to sell their first-born rights for a bowl of lentils. Far from being eager to dominate, they will unite to their professional life a desire to serve their fellow citizens in politics or in trade unions.

Fulfilling our duties and exercising our rights

To all of you I say: those of you with a vocation for politics, act freely in this area, without giving up the rights you have as citizens. Seek your sanctification there, while serving the Church and your country. Pursue the common good of all in whatever way you think best, because in temporal matters there are no dogmas.

Personal freedom and responsibility

As for the rest of you, always fulfil your duties faithfully and demand that your rights be respected. Everyone should act freely, because it belongs to our particular divine calling to sanctify ourselves while working in one’s ordinary tasks according to the dictates of each individual’s conscience; we feel that we are personally responsible for our activities, which we have freely decided upon within the boundaries of the faith and morals of Jesus Christ.