Editing Encyclical (section)

==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.<ref name=":0" />

For the modern [[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 and usually addressed especially to patriarchs, primates, archbishops and bishops who are in [[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]] 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 [[opening sentence|first few words]] (its ''[[incipit]]''). They are usually written in [[Latin language|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===
{{See also|Lists of papal encyclicals}}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:

{{blockquote|It is not to be thought that what is set down in Encyclical letters does not demand assent in itself, because in this the popes do not exercise the supreme power of their magisterium.  For these matters are taught by the ordinary magisterium, regarding which the following is pertinent: "He who heareth you, heareth Me." (Luke 10:16); and usually what is set forth and inculcated in Encyclical Letters, already pertains to Catholic doctrine.  But if the Supreme Pontiffs in their acts, after due consideration, express an opinion on a hitherto controversial matter, it is clear to all that this matter, according to the mind and will of the same Pontiffs, cannot any longer be considered a question of free discussion among theologians.<ref>''[[Humani generis]]''</ref>}}

[[Catholic social teaching]] has advanced 19 encyclicals. On social issues, [[Pope Leo XIII]] promulgated the encyclical ''[[Rerum novarum]]'' (1891), which was followed by ''[[Quadragesimo anno]]'' (1931) of [[Pope Pius XI|Pius XI]] and ''[[Centesimus annus]]'' (1991) of [[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]]. [[List of encyclicals of Pope Pius XII|Pope Pius XII issued ten encyclicals]], mostly after 1945, three of them protesting against the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] invasion of [[Hungary]] which suppressed the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956|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]].