The evolution of papal social thought on indigenous peoples

The aim of the paper is to present the evolution of papal social teaching on indigenous peoples’ rights from a historical perspective. It seems possible to distinguish various phases of the Catholic standpoint based on the factual, historical background: medieval challenges of infidel peoples, the Indian question during the colonization period, the impact of modernity: class struggle and the Catholic social teaching, and finally, the contemporary globalization era during the present pontificate of Pope Francis. The common threads of papal teaching concern, firstly, the evangelizing mission of the Church to bring faith to overseas peoples and, secondly, human rights of indigenous peoples. The human rights perspective is inextricably linked with the principle of self-determination, understood as the foundation of good governance.