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Encyclical

An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Roman Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop. The word comes from the Late Latin encyclios (originally from the Latin encyclius, a Latinization of Greek ἐνκύκλιος (enkyklios), meaning "circular", "in a circle", or "all-round", also part of the origin of the word encyclopedia).[1] The term has been used by Catholics, Anglicans and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Catholic social teaching has advanced 19 encyclicals.

Anglican usage[edit]

Amongst Anglicans the term encyclical was revived in the late 19th century. It is applied to circular letters issued by the English primates.

(1848)

Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs

Patriarchal encyclical of 1895

Patriarchal encyclical of 1920

Patriarchal encyclical of 2012[5]

[4]

Apostolic letter (disambiguation)

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

List of papal documents at the Theology Library

at GCatholic

Papal Encyclicals

texts of most of the encyclicals from recent centuries

www.papalencyclicals.net