On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the birth of the American-Slovak philosopher, theologian and political economist Professor Michael Novak, an international study colloquium was held on December 5, 2023 at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas "Angelicum" in Rome with the participation of distinguished experts. Novak was a prominent defender of a free society and its relationship to Christian ideals. His magnum opus, The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism, earned him the admiration of Pope John Paul II. In this publication, we bring the proceedings of this colloquium and also present several peer-reviewed contributions from selected scholars that focus on the work of Professor Novak and the topic of social ethics.