Encyclical

In the ancient Church, an encyclical was a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area. As used at that time, the word could be used of a letter sent out by any bishop. The word comes from Latin "encyclia" meaning "general" or "encircling", which is also the origin of the word "encyclopedia".

Important papal encyclicals

• Pope Benedict XIV
• Ex Quo (1756)
• Pope Pius IX
• Quanta Cura (1864)
• Pope Leo XIII
• Humanum Genus (1884)
• Rerum Novarum (1891)
• Providentissimus Deus (1893)
• Pope Pius X
• Vehementer Nos (1905)
• Pascendi Dominici Gregis (1910)
• Pope Benedict XV
• Humani Generis Redemptionem (1917)
• Pacem, Dei Munus Pulcherrimum (1920)
• Pope Pius XI
• Casti Connubii (1930)
• Quadragesimo Anno (1931)
• Divini Redemptoris
• Mit Brennender Sorge (1937)
• Pope Pius XII
• Mystici Corporis Christi (1943)
• Humani Generis (1950)
• Munificentissimus Deus (1950)
• Pope John XXIII
• 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
• 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
• Redemptor Hominis (1979)
• Dives in Misericordia (1980)
• Laborem Exercens (1981)
• Familiaris Consortio (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)