Pope
Francis will issue his long-awaited "encyclical" on climate change and
the environment on Thursday. So ... what is an encyclical?
As its name implies, an encyclical is a "circular letter" to be spread throughout a community. (The word comes from the Greek egkyklios, with kyklos meaning a circle.)
A papal encyclical is one of the highest forms of communication by the pope and usually deals with some aspect of Catholic teaching — clarifying, amplifying, condemning or promoting one or a number of issues.
A papal encyclical historically is addressed to bishops and priests of a country or region or to all clergy. Or encyclicals can be addressed to all Catholic faithful.
The first encyclical was written in 1740 by Pope Benedict XIV. Since then, nearly 300 have been written. Popes have published encyclicals on issues of general concern, like peace or human rights, after Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical on labor and social justice in 1897.
Francis' encyclical being released Thursday will be his second. His first, in 2013, dealt with faith, though it was primarily written by Pope Benedict XVI and was only completed by Francis.
According to a leaked copy of the upcoming encyclical, Francis says most climate change is due to human activity and calls it one of the most important moral issues facing society.
During his weekly address on Sunday, the pope said the encyclical is meant for everyone, not just Catholics, the Associated Press reported.
"This encyclical is aimed at everyone: Let us pray that everyone can receive its message and grow in responsibility toward the common home that God has given us," he said.
Contributing: Religion News Service
As its name implies, an encyclical is a "circular letter" to be spread throughout a community. (The word comes from the Greek egkyklios, with kyklos meaning a circle.)
A papal encyclical is one of the highest forms of communication by the pope and usually deals with some aspect of Catholic teaching — clarifying, amplifying, condemning or promoting one or a number of issues.
A papal encyclical historically is addressed to bishops and priests of a country or region or to all clergy. Or encyclicals can be addressed to all Catholic faithful.
The first encyclical was written in 1740 by Pope Benedict XIV. Since then, nearly 300 have been written. Popes have published encyclicals on issues of general concern, like peace or human rights, after Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical on labor and social justice in 1897.
Francis' encyclical being released Thursday will be his second. His first, in 2013, dealt with faith, though it was primarily written by Pope Benedict XVI and was only completed by Francis.
According to a leaked copy of the upcoming encyclical, Francis says most climate change is due to human activity and calls it one of the most important moral issues facing society.
During his weekly address on Sunday, the pope said the encyclical is meant for everyone, not just Catholics, the Associated Press reported.
"This encyclical is aimed at everyone: Let us pray that everyone can receive its message and grow in responsibility toward the common home that God has given us," he said.
Contributing: Religion News Service
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