John Cornwell

There was a time when papal encyclicals were treated as virtual pronouncements of papal infallibility. There are still a small minority of Catholics who cite Pope Paul VI's 1968 document Humanae Vitae - which outlawed artificial birth control - as the word of God.

British Journalist

Seamus Heaney

The kinds of truth that art gives us many, many times are small truths. They don't have the resonance of an encyclical from the Pope stating an eternal truth, but they partake of the quality of eternity. There is a sort of timeless delight in them.

Irish Poet

An encyclical is a special message written by the Pope and addresses moral or doctrinal issues.

Pope's Message

Although coming from the Catholic Pope, encyclicals may have messages on universal issues, like peace or climate.

Global Relevance

The term 'encyclical' is not commonly used in everyday conversation; it's specific to religious documents.

Not a Common Word

 Argentina where he consistently dealt with the problems of the poor and came face-to-face with the kinds of issues that are destroying the world at the present time among the important elements of the encyclical that I think will surprise people or may interest them if they haven't thought about it

Pope Advisor Has Harsh...

 can make a substantial contribution. Five years ago I wrote the encyclical letter "Laudato Si’," dedicated to the care of our common home.

Encyclical