Encyclical: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|circularDoctrinal letterdocument sentin to all theChristian churches of a particular area}}

Although the term "encyclical" originally simply meant a circulating letter, it acquired a more specific meaning within the context of the Catholic Church. In 1740, [[Pope Benedict XIV]] wrote a letter titled ''Ubi primum'', which is generally regarded as the first ''encyclical'' in a modern sense. The term is now used almost exclusively for a kind of letter sent out by the Popepope.<ref name=":0" />

For the modern Roman [[Catholic Church]], a '''papal encyclical''' is a specific category of papal document, a kind of [[Pastoral care|pastoral]] letter concerning Catholic doctrine, sent by the [[Pope]]pope and usually addressed especially to patriarchs, primates, archbishops and bishops who are in [[Communion (Christian)Koinonia|communion]] with the [[Holy See]]. The form of the address can vary widely, and may concern bishops in a particular area, or designate a wider audience.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Encyclical|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/encyclical}}</ref> Papal encyclicals usually take the form of a [[papal brief]] duebecause toof their more personal nature as opposed to the formal [[papal bull]]. They are usually written in [[Latin language|Latin]], and, like allmost papal documents, the title of the encyclical is usually taken from its [[opening sentence|first few words]] (its ''[[incipit]]'').

===Papal use of encyclicals===

EncyclicalsOn indicatesocial high papal priority for an issue at a given time. Pontiffs define whenissues, and under which circumstances, encyclicals should be issued. They may choose to issue an [[apostolicPope constitutionLeo XIII]], [[Papalpromulgated bull|bull]],the encyclical, ''[[apostolicRerum letternovarum]]'' or(1891), givewhich awas papalfollowed [[speech]]. Popes have differed on the use of encyclicals: on the issue ofby ''[[birthQuadragesimo controlanno]]'' and(1931) [[contraception]],of [[Pope Pius XI|Pius XI]] issued the encyclicaland ''[[CastiCentesimus connubiiannus]]'', while(1991) of [[Pope PiusJohn XII]]Paul gave a speech to [[midwifeII|midwives]]John andPaul the [[medicalII]] profession, clarifying the position of the church on the issue.<ref>Acta Apostolicae Sedis, (AAS) 1951, 835, AAS 1958, 90, AAS 1941, 40, AAS 1952, 258</ref> [[PopeList Paulof VI]] published an encyclical ''[[Humanae vitae]]'' on the same topic. On mattersencyclicals of [[war]]Pope and [[peace]],Pius XII|Pope Pius XII issued ten encyclicals]], mostly after 1945, three of them protesting against the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] invasion of [[Hungary]] inwhich order to crack down onsuppressed the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956|Hungarian Revolution]] in 1956: ''[[Datis nuperrime]]'', ''[[SertumLaetamur laetitiaeadmodum]]'' and ''[[Luctuosissimi eventus]]''. [[Pope Paul VI]] spokepublished aboutan the war in [[Vietnam]] and [[Pope John Paul II]], issued a protest against the war in [[Iraq]] using the medium of speeches. On social issues, [[Pope Leo XIII]] promulgatedencyclical ''[[RerumHumanae novarumvitae]]'' (1891), which was followed by ''[[Quadragesimo anno]]'' (1931) of Pius XI and ''[[Centesimus annus]]'' (1991) of [[John Paul II]]. Pius XII spoke on the same topic to a [[papal consistory|consistory]] of [[Cardinalbirth (Catholicism)|cardinalcontrol]]s, in his Christmas messages and to numerous academic and professional associations.<ref>Allocution to the Cardinals AAS 1946, 141, and, AAS 1952, 5, AAS 1955, 15; and, for example in his Christmas Message 1954, AAS, medical doctors on the use of modern weapons, AAS 1954, 587, farmers, AAS 1950, 251, fashion AAS 1957, 1011, human [[dignity]], AAS 1951, 215, AAS 1957, 830</ref>

==NotesReferences==

*[http://www.papalencyclicals.net www.papalencyclicals.net], a source for etextstexts of most of the encyclicals from recent centuries

[[Category:Christian literary genres]]