CSDC 132

A just society can become a reality only when it is based on the respect of the transcendent dignity of the human person. The person represents the ultimate end of society, by which it is ordered to the person: “Hence, the social order and its development must invariably work to the benefit of the human person, since the order of things is to be subordinate to the order of persons, and not the other way around”²⁴⁶ Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 26: AAS 58AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 58 (1966) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1966), 1046-1047.. Respect for human dignity can in no way be separated from obedience to this principle. It is necessary to “consider every neighbour without exception as another self, taking into account first of all his life and the means necessary for living it with dignity”²⁴⁷ Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 27: AAS 58AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 58 (1966) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1966), 1047.. Every political, economic, social, scientific and cultural programme must be inspired by the awareness of the primacy of each human being over society²⁴⁸ Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2235..