What is the common good in Catholic Social Teaching?

The common good is defined by the Catechism as 'the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily' (CCC 1906). It is not simply the aggregate of individual goods or the will of the majority, but the set of conditions — including respect for rights, peace, security, and access to essential goods — that enable every member of society to flourish. The common good has three essential elements according to the Catechism: (1) Respect for the person and their fundamental, inalienable rights. (2) Social well-being and development of the community, including access to food, clothing, health, education, information, and the right to found a family. (3) Peace — the stability and security of a just order. The common good requires the contribution of all and the wise governance of public authority. It stands against both radical individualism (which ignores social responsibility) and collectivism (which subsumes the individual into the state). Every person and institution has a responsibility to contribute to the common good.