Encyclical

Catholic usage

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. The term is now used almost exclusively for a kind of letter sent out by the pope.

For the modern Catholic Church, a papal encyclical is a specific category of papal document, a kind of pastoral letter concerning Catholic doctrine, sent by the pope and usually addressed especially to patriarchs, primates, archbishops and bishops who are in 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. Papal encyclicals usually take the form of a papal brief because of their more personal nature as opposed to the formal papal bull.

Like most papal documents the title of the encyclical is usually taken from its first few words (its incipit). They are usually written in Latin unless particularly addressed to the Bishops or the church of one region. Papal encyclicals not in Latin include the 1931 Italian Non abbiamo bisogno against Italian fascist suppression of groups like Catholic Action, and the 1937 German Mit brennender Sorge against the Nazi idolization of race and nation.

Papal use

In the encyclical Humani generis, Pope Pius XII held that papal encyclicals, even when they are of ordinary magisterium, can nonetheless be sufficiently authoritative to end theological debate on a particular question:

As part of Catholic social teaching, popes have issued at least 19 encyclicals, over more than a century. On social issues and workers rights, Pope Leo XIII promulgated the encyclical Rerum novarum (1891), which was followed by Quadragesimo anno (1931) of Pius XI and Centesimus annus (1991) of John Paul II. Pope Pius XII issued ten encyclicals, mostly after 1945, three of them protesting against the Soviet invasion of Hungary which suppressed the Hungarian Revolution in 1956: Datis nuperrime, Laetamur admodum and Luctuosissimi eventus. Pope Paul VI published an encyclical Humanae vitae on the topic of birth control and euthanasia.

Anglican usage

Amongst Anglicans the term encyclical was revived in the late 19th century. It is applied to circular letters issued by the English primates.

Eastern Orthodox usage

In Eastern Orthodoxy, encyclicals can be written by those like the Patriarch of Constantinople, by Synods of Bishops, or by individual bishops.

Important Eastern Orthodox encyclicals

• Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs (1848)
• Patriarchal encyclical of 1895
• Patriarchal encyclical of 1920
• Patriarchal encyclical of 2012

References

Sources

• The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd. ed.), p. 545.

References

1. Rice, Doyle. (16 June 2015). "The papal encyclical: What is an 'encyclical'?".
2. "Encyclical".
3. ''[[Humani generis]]''
4. "Encyclicals - Ecumenical Patriarchate".
5. "Holy Synod - Encyclicals".
6. "All Encyclicals - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Orthodox Church".
7. Simon as, Marlise. (3 December 2012). "Orthodox Leader Deepens Progressive Stance on Environment". [[The New York Times]].
8. "Message by H.A.H. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew upon the Day of Prayer for the Protection of Creation (01/09/2012)".