(February 25, 1883 – April 4, 1950) professor of dogmatic theology at the College of Saint Thomas, the future Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum from 1912 to 1921 and Master of the Sacred Palace under Pope Pius XI contributed especially to the encyclical and afterward published his Appunti sul comunismo moderno treating the Church's position on communism.

[2][3] The encyclical describes communism as "a system full of errors and sophisms" that "subverts the social order, because it means the destruction of its foundations".

He faults industrialists and employers who do not adequately support their workers for creating a climate of discontent in which people are tempted to embrace Communism.

The work expresses concern at the growth of communism in the Soviet Union, Spain, and Mexico, and it condemns the Western press for its apparent "conspiracy of silence" in failing to cover such events in those countries.

[5] It was published five days after the publication of the more controversial Mit brennender Sorge encyclical, which condemned the German Nazi regime and ideology.