From the culture of discard to the culture of encounter: the contribution of Pope Francis to the Social Doctrine of the Church

Abstract

The present work has gone further into the concept ‘throwaway culture’, by Pope Francis as key to understanding of the different social problems. By using this concept, he goes through the different meanings that the Pope gives to this expression and the consequences that this implies for a critical look at our current world, based on the Social Doctrine of the Church. Further on, it analyses the concept "culture of encounter", which Francis proposes to us as a horizon that can motivate and guide efforts to overcome current problems and establish a form of relationship that overcomes the discarding of people and opens us to brotherhood and social friendship. Throughout this research, a synthesis view of both concepts was established as well as their value in light of Pope Francis line of thought was established, providing elements for their better understanding and application to the different social realities that we have to face from Christian perspective.