Subsidiarity refers to the appropriate balancing of responsibilities and functions among the parts of a

social order.  It has its origin in the Catholic understanding of community, which perceives a community
not as so many individuals connected by contracts, but as a corporate whole—a moral and cultural body
that, like anybody, is comprised of limbs and parts the differences of which contribute to the good of the
whole. 

ETYMOLOGY:

Etymologically the concept subsidiarity is derived from the Latin words subsidio (to aid, to help or
assist), subsidium and subsidiarius (aid, assistance or subsidy) which entail assistance or support given to
a less privileged person or organization. As a socio-ethical principle it is one of the most crucial social
doctrines of the Roman Catholic social teachings firstly propounded in the encyclical letter of Pope Leo
XIII Rerum Novarum (1892) and later developed in the writings of the German theologian Oswald Von
Nell-Breuning whose work influenced the social teachings of Pope Pius XI in his encyclical letter
Quadragesimo Anno (1931)

IMPLICATION

So, from its original root, subsidiarity invokes that hallmark idea of traditional Catholic teaching: the
preferential option for the poor.  Moreover, it shares with its root a context in the social order as a
body-like whole, in which everyone has moral obligations vis-à-vis others in light of the common good. 
From subsiduum also comes the Latin subsidiarius, which refers to a person to whom a subsidy should
be given.  In Roman-based systems of law, courts’ concern with compensation to a subsidiarius was to
avoid either overcompensating or under compensating.    Overcompensating, it was reasoned,
undermined the ability of those in our care to take responsibility for their own duties to the community
and society.  It sapped initiative.  Under compensating, just the reverse, would not provide enough
subsidy to those depending on us for them to fulfill their potential for themselves and the social order.

Definition

The principle of solidarity is a socio-ethical and political concept which states that it is fair and just that
benefits and obligations are justly shared between members of the society.

Etymology of the Principle of Solidarity

The etymology of the English term ‘solidarity’ has been commonsensically thought to derive from the
French term solidarité (and solidaire). In one of the first recorded uses of the term in English, the
revolutionary People’s Press proclaimed in pregnant 1848: “Solidarity is a word of French origin, the
naturalisation of which, in this country, is desirable.”11 The aim of establishing this, so to speak, ‘French
connection’ during the period of its introduction in English is apparent. The revolutionary breadth of
solidarité was seen as an indispensable component of a similar conceptualization of solidarity in English
IMPLICATIONS

The principle of solidarity of the European Union is a fundamental principle based on sharing both the
advantages, i.e. prosperity, and the burdens equally and justly among members.

The principle of solidarity is often used in the context of social protection. For example, it was applied by
the European Court of Justice in a case concerning complaints by self-employed workers that
compulsory contributions to the mutual funds established to provide social protection violated the
principles of free competition in the common market as laid down in Articles 81-82 EC (now Articles 101-
102 TFEU). In Poucet v. Assurances générales de France (AGF) et Caisse mutuelle régionale du
Languedoc-Roussillon (Camulrac), Pistre v. Caisse autonome nationale de compensation de l’assurance
vieillesse des artisans (Cancava), Cases C-159/91 and C-160/91, [1993] ECR 637, the French government
in its arguments to the Court cited Article L 111-1 of the Social Security Code, which defines the
principles of social protection in France: solidarity and compulsory affiliation.

Synodality denotes the particular style that qualifies the life and mission of the Church. The Holy See's
International Theological Commission states that synodality, when it concerns the Catholic Church,
designates "the specific modus vivendi et operandi of the Church, the People of God, which reveals and
gives substance to her being as communion when all her members journey together, gather in assembly
and take an active part in her evangelising mission." Synodality also "refers to the involvement and
participation of the whole People of God in the life and mission of the Church".[2] The church's Dicastery
for Promoting Christian Unity notes that the term synodality "[b]roadly [...] refers to the active
participation of all the faithful in the life and mission of the Church".[3]