CSDC 556

The integral perfection of the person and the good of the whole of society are the essential ends of culture¹¹⁶⁵ Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 59: AAS 58AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 58 (1966) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1966), 1079-1080.; the ethical dimension of culture is therefore a priority in the social action of the laity. Failure to pay attention to this dimension easily transforms culture into an instrument that impoverishes humanity. A culture can become sterile and headed for decadence when it “becomes inward looking, and tries to perpetuate obsolete ways of living by rejecting any exchange or debate with regard to the truth about man”¹¹⁶⁶ John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 50: AAS 83AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 83 (1991) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1991), 856.. The formation of a culture capable of enriching men and women requires on the contrary the involvement of the whole person, who, in the cultural sphere, expresses his creativity, his intelligence, his knowledge of the world and of human persons; someone moreover who puts to good use his capacity for self-control, personal sacrifice, solidarity and readiness to promote the common good¹¹⁶⁷ Cf. John Paul II, Address to UNESCO (2 June 1980), 11: L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, 23 June 1980, p. 10..