encyclical adj : intended for wide distribution; "an encyclical letter" n : a letter from the pope sent to all Roman Catholic bishops throughout the world [syn: encyclical letter]

English

Etymology

From encyclicus, from εγκυκλιος, from εν− + κυκλος.

Pronunciation

IPA: /ɛn'sɪklɪkəl/

Noun

1. A papal letter delivered to Bishops in the Roman Catholic Church.

Translations

An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Christian church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop. The word comes from Latin encyclia (from the Greek "en kyklo, ") meaning "general" or "encircling", which is also the origin of the word "encyclopedia".

The Roman Catholic Church generally only uses this term for papal encyclicals, but the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion retain the older usage.

Roman Catholic usage

For the modern Roman Catholic Church a Papal encyclical, in the strictest sense, is a letter sent by the Pope which is explicitly addressed to Roman Catholic bishops of a particular area or to the world, usually treating some aspect of Catholic doctrine. However, the form of the address can vary widely, and often designates a wider audience. Papal encyclicals usually take the form of a Papal brief due to their more personal nature as opposed to the formal Papal bull. Papal encyclicals are so famous that the term encyclical for Roman Catholics is used almost exclusively for those sent out by the Pope. The title of the encyclical is usually taken from its first few words.

Within Catholicism in recent times, an encyclical is generally used for significant issues, and is second in importance only to the highest ranking document now issued by popes, an Apostolic Constitution. However, the designation 'encyclical' does not always denote such a degree of significance. The archives at the Vatican website currently classify some encyclicals as "Apostolic Exhortations". This informal term generally indicates documents with a broader audience than the bishops alone.

Pope Pius XII held that Papal Encyclicals, even when they are not ex cathedra, can nonetheless be sufficiently authoritative to end theological debate on a particular question:

Papal use of encyclicals

Encyclicals indicate high Papal priority for a issue at a given time. Pontiffs define when, and under which circumstances encyclicals should be issued. They may choose to issue an apostolic constitution, bull, encyclical, apostolic letter or give a papal speech. Pontiffs differ on the use of encyclicals: On the issue of birth control and contraception, Pope Pius XI issued the encyclical Casti Connubii, while Pope Pius XII spoke to midwives and the medical profession, when he clarified his position on the issue. Pope Paul VI published an encyclical Humanae Vitae on the same topic. On matters of war and peace, Pope Pius XII issued ten encyclicals, most of them after 1945, three of them Datis Nuperrime, Sertum Laetitiae, Luctuosissimi Eventus protesting the Soviet invasion and crackdown of the Hungarian revolution in 1956. Pope Paul VI spoke about the war in Vietnam and Pope John Paul II, issued his protest against the war in Iraq in speeches. On social issues, Pope Leo XIII promulgated Rerum Novarum, followed by Quadragesimo Anno of Pius XI, and Centesimus Annus by John Paul II. Pius XII spoke on the same topic to a consistory of cardinals in his Christmas messages and to numerous academic and professional associations.

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.

Important papal encyclicals

*Pope Saint Peter (30-67)

• • I Peter 63/64
  • II Peter 66/67

*Pope Eugene IV (1431-1447)

• • Sicut Dudum 1435

*Pope Saint Pius V 7 January 1566 to 1 May 1572

• • Quo Primum 19 July 1570

*Pope Benedict XIV (1740-1758)

• • Vix Pervenit 1745
  • Ex Quo 1756

*Pope Blessed Pius IX (1846-1878)

• • Quanta Cura 1864

*Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903)

• • Humanum Genus 1884
  • Rerum Novarum 1891
  • Providentissimus Deus 1893

*Pope Saint Pius X (1903-1914)

• • Vehementer Nos 1905
  • Pascendi Dominici Gregis 1910

*Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922)

• • Humani Generis Redemptionem 1917
  • Pacem, Dei Munus Pulcherrimum 1920

*Pope Pius XI (1922-1939)

• • Iniquis Afflictisque 1926
  • Casti Connubii 1930
  • Quadragesimo Anno 1931
  • Acerba animi 1932
  • Dilectissima Nobis 1933
  • Divini Redemptoris 1937
  • Mit Brennender Sorge 1937

*Pope Pius XII (1939-1958)

• • Summi Pontificatus1939
  • Sertum Laetitiae 1939
  • Mystici Corporis Christi 1943
  • Divino Afflante Spiritu 1943
  • Orientales Omnes1945
  • Deiparae Virginis Mariae1946
  • Mediator Dei 1947
  • Provida Mater Ecclesia 1947
  • Auspicia Quaedam 1948
  • In Multiplicibus 1948
  • Redemptoris Nostri 1949
  • Humani Generis 1950
  • Anni Sacri 1950
  • Fulgens Corona 1950
  • Munificentissimus Deus 1950, Ap. Const., Dogma of the Assumption
  • Sempiternus Rex 1951
  • Evangelii Praecones 1951
  • Orientales Ecclesia1952
  • Ad Caeli Reginam 1954
  • Ad Sinarum Gentes 1954
  • Sacra Virginitas 1954
  • Haurietis Aquas 1956
  • Miranda Prorsus 1957
  • Invicti Athletae 1957
  • Ad Apostolorum Principis 1958

*Pope Blessed John XXIII (1958-1963)

• • Ad Petri Cathedram 1959
  • Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia 1959
  • Grata Recordatio 1959
  • Princeps Pastorum 1959
  • Mater et Magistra 1961
  • Aeterna Dei Sapientia 1961
  • Poenitentiam Agere 1962
  • Pacem in Terris 1963

*Pope Paul VI (1963-1978)

• • Ecclesiam Suam 1964
  • Mense Maio 1965
  • Mysterium Fidei 1965
  • Christi Matri 1966
  • Populorum Progressio 1967
  • Sacerdotalis Caelibatus 1967
  • Humanae Vitae 1968

*Pope John Paul II (1978-2005)

• • Redemptor Hominis 1979
  • Dives in Misericordia 1980
  • Laborem Exercens 1981
  • Slavorum Apostoli 1985
  • Dominum et Vivificantem 1986
  • Redemptoris Mater 1987
  • Sollicitudo Rei Socialis 1987
  • Redemptoris Missio 1990
  • Centesimus Annus 1991
  • Veritatis Splendor 1993
  • Evangelium Vitae 1995
  • Ut Unum Sint 1995
  • Fides et Ratio 1998
  • Ecclesia de Eucharistia 2003

*Pope Benedict XVI (2005 to present)

• • Deus Caritas Est 2005
  • Spe Salvi 2007
  • (Caritas in Veritate coming Summer 2008)

Important Eastern Orthodox encyclicals

• Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs (1848)

Important Anglican encyclicals

• Encyclical Saepius Officio (1897)

External links

• Leo XIII Encyclicals from Vatican
• St.Pius X Encyclicals from Vatican
• BenedictXV Encyclicals from Vatican
• Pius XI Encyclicals from Vatican
• Pius XII Encyclicals from Vatican
• John XXIII Encyclicals from Vatican
• Paul VI Encyclicals from Vatican
• John Paul II Encyclicals from Vatican
• Benedict XVI Encyclicals from Vatican
• Papal Encyclicals at Giga-Catholic Information
• www.papalencyclicals.net, a source for etexts of most of the encyclicals from recent centuries
• The Authority of Papal Encyclicals

Source

• Acta Apostolicae Sedis, (AAS), Roma Vaticano, 1920-2007

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

Quotes

Pastoral Epistle, aerogram, air letter, airgraph, announcement, annunciation, billet-doux, bull, bulletin board, chain letter, circular, communique, dead letter, declaration, dimissorial, dimissory letter, drop letter, edict, enunciation, fan letter, form letter, letter of credit, letter of introduction, letters credential, letters of marque, letters of request, letters overt, letters patent, letters rogatory, love letter, manifesto, monitory, newsletter, nixie, notice, notification, open letter, pastoral letter, poison-pen letter, position paper, proclamation, program, programma, pronouncement, pronunciamento, public notice, report, round robin, statement, ukase, white book, white paper