When the pope speaks, we listen. Anytime the Holy Father releases a document, it carries with it a strong sense of authority and significance. After all, the pope, as Bishop of Rome and Peter’s successor, is our pastor, and has universal power over the whole Church. A papal document allows the pontifex maximus, the bridge-builder, to communicate with his flock, and guide the faithful. Necessarily, it is important to understand the differences between the various types of papal documents, and their respective authority.
Apostolic Constitutions are the most solemn papal document and are typically addressed to the public. This form of legislation is important in dealing with doctrinal and disciplinary matters of a local church or the Church as a whole. Many influential documents, like The Code of Canon Law, have been promulgated as constitutions.
Encyclicals are letters of pastoral or theological content, meant to be read by all of the faithful. These letters are typically longer reflections, on topics of importance to the pope. While an encyclical does not hold the weight of a constitution, it nevertheless holds high papal authority for a given issue. Take, for example, Pope St. Paul VI’s encyclical, Humanae Vitae, which provides clear teachings on God’s plan for married love and the transmission of human life, reaffirming the teachings of previous popes.
Apostolic Exhortations are addresses emphatically urging the faithful to consider a particular spiritual matter or activity, of importance to the Pontiff. Despite the similarities, apostolic exhortations carry less authority than encyclicals, and are not considered legislative. The Holy Father frequently issues an exhortation following a Synod of Bishops.
Apostolic Letters are written by the Pontiff in response to a specific need or addressed to a specific group of people. These letters are pastoral in nature, but not legislative. A notable example is Pope Francis’ recent letter, Admirabile Signum, which discusses the meaning of the Nativity scene.
Motu Proprio, which translates to “by one’s own initiative,” is a legislative document dealing with specific issues relevant to the Church in a given time in history. A motu proprio is issued by the pope himself and can be on any topic. For example, Pope Emeritus Benedict’s motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum, specified the circumstances in which priests could celebrate the Tridentine Mass and administer sacraments in the form used prior to the reforms that followed the Second Vatican Council.
Papal Bulls are official declarations or announcements issued by the pope. These documents are named after the round, lead seal, called a bulla in Latin. Portraits of Saints Peter and Paul appear on one side of the bulla, and the name of the pope on the other. A papal bull was used by St. John Paul II to announce the Jubilee Year of 2000.
Papal Rescripts are usually written in response to a petition placed before the Roman Curia, the administrative institutions of the Holy See, or the pope himself. These papal rescripts are meant to make new laws or modify existing ones.
Decretal Letters are letters of a pope containing a decretum, a pontifical decision. Canonizations and dogmatic definitions, for example, are often decreed in the form of a decretal letter.
Breva, or Apostolic Briefs, are lowest on the hierarchy of papal messages, and they deal with matters of relatively minor importance.
Armed with the knowledge of all the different types of documents the pope can issue, we can have a better understanding of why the Holy Father may have released a document, and its significance. Moreover, we can understand the implications past and future papal documents have on our faith, and develop a deeper appreciation for the Church’s magisterium.
Featured image courtesy of Minneapolis Institute of Arts via WikiMedia
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