Editing Encyclical (section)

===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]].