PAPAL ENCYCLICALS
A Papal Encyclical is the name typically given to a letter written by a Pope to a particular audience of Bishops. This audience of Bishops may be all of the Bishops in a specific country or all of the Bishops in all countries throughout the world.
A more complete description can be found in the Catholic Encyclopedia entry Encyclical:
“According to its etymology, an encyclical (from the Greek egkyklios, kyklos meaning a circle) is nothing more than a circular letter. In modern times, usage has confined the term almost exclusively to certain papal documents which differ in their technical form from the ordinary style of either Bulls or Briefs, and which in their superscription are explicitly addressed to the patriarchs, primates, archbishops, and bishops of the Universal Church in communion with the Apostolic See. By exception, encyclicals are also sometimes addressed to the archbishops and bishops of a particular country.”
Why is an encyclical important?
A papal encyclical is one of the highest forms of communication by the pope and usually deals with some aspect of Catholic teaching — clarifying, amplifying, condemning or promoting one or a number of issues.
Encyclicals help everyone better understand how to apply the teachings of Sacred Scripture and Catholic Tradition.
Below are some important encyclicals relevant to this website.
A more complete description can be found in the Catholic Encyclopedia entry Encyclical:
“According to its etymology, an encyclical (from the Greek egkyklios, kyklos meaning a circle) is nothing more than a circular letter. In modern times, usage has confined the term almost exclusively to certain papal documents which differ in their technical form from the ordinary style of either Bulls or Briefs, and which in their superscription are explicitly addressed to the patriarchs, primates, archbishops, and bishops of the Universal Church in communion with the Apostolic See. By exception, encyclicals are also sometimes addressed to the archbishops and bishops of a particular country.”
Why is an encyclical important?
A papal encyclical is one of the highest forms of communication by the pope and usually deals with some aspect of Catholic teaching — clarifying, amplifying, condemning or promoting one or a number of issues.
Encyclicals help everyone better understand how to apply the teachings of Sacred Scripture and Catholic Tradition.
Below are some important encyclicals relevant to this website.
Popes who had condemned Freemasonry:
In Eminenti - Encyclical dated April 27, 1738 by Pope Clement XII (Reigned 1730 to1740) which brought excommunications against the Freemasons;
Providas Romanorum - A Bull dated March 16, 1751 by Pope Benedict XIV, renewing the condemnation of excommunication against the Freemasons;
Ecclesiam a Jesu Christo - Encyclical dated Sept. 13, 1821 by Pope Pius VII which particularly denonced the Carbonari;
Traditi Humilitati- Encyclical dated May 24, 1829 by Pope Pius VIII exposing secret scieties that are attempting to pervert the youth;
In Eminenti - Encyclical dated April 27, 1738 by Pope Clement XII (Reigned 1730 to1740) which brought excommunications against the Freemasons;
Providas Romanorum - A Bull dated March 16, 1751 by Pope Benedict XIV, renewing the condemnation of excommunication against the Freemasons;
Ecclesiam a Jesu Christo - Encyclical dated Sept. 13, 1821 by Pope Pius VII which particularly denonced the Carbonari;
Traditi Humilitati- Encyclical dated May 24, 1829 by Pope Pius VIII exposing secret scieties that are attempting to pervert the youth;
Encyclicals against Modern Errors marked with **
Pope Gregory XVI - 1832
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POPE PIUS IX- 1846 to 1878
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POPE LEO XIII - 1878 to 1903
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SAINT PIUS X - 1903 to 1914
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PIUS XI - 1922 to 1939
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