science and technology." In the Introduction it states: "the Church has always had the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel." Marie-Dominique Chenu, professor of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum was influential in the composition of Gaudium et spes, as was Louis-Joseph Lebret. "The problem of poverty and of overcoming it through a healthy economy, respectful of the primary value of the person, allows for a vast discussion on political ethics in Gaudium et spes." In the end, the "council exhorts Christians, as citizens of two cities, to strive to discharge their earthly duties conscientiously and in response to the Gospel spirit". Contents Central themes Gift of self The "gift of self" from GS §24 was a phrase used often by Pope John Paul II and particularly in his theology of the Body. This phrase has also been described as "the Law of the Gift". Promotion of peace The final chapter of the document is "The Fostering of Peace and the Promotion of a Community of Nations". This chapter references themes expressed near the start of Vatican II by Pope John XXIII in 1963 in his encyclical, Pacem in Terris. Reception Immediately following Vatican II Initial opposition came in the form of debate over the theological basis of Vatican II and Gaudium et spes. According to Henri de Lubac, the theological balance of nature and grace pre-Vatican II was overturned in favor of nature and the world which goes against the importance placed upon transcendence. Reception today Gaudium et spes has been evaluated as the shift of the church to its new globalized view of the world. It serves as the basis for multiculturalism in the modern church and has become the basis of the church’s message to the world today. References Works cited Further reading External links The full text in English on the Vatican Web site From Ratzinger to Benedict by Avery Cardinal Dulles, Article in Feb 2006 edition of First Things The Anthropocentrism of Gaudium et spes (Constitution on the Church in the Modern World) by Brunero Gherardini. Excerpted from Il Vaticano II. Alle radici d'un equivoco [Vatican II: At the Roots of an Equivoque], p. 185-195. Documents of the Catholic Social Teaching tradition Documents of the Second Vatican Council 1965 documents 1965 in Christianity