In Catholicism, what is the difference between a [Creed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#Nicene_Creed) , an [Encyclical](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclical) , a [Decretal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decretal) , a [Canon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Laodicea#Biblical_canon) and a [Papal Bull](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_bull) ? Are there any other decrees or formal or informal outlines of official church doctrine used by the Catholic church and are any excluded from or exclusively used for inerrant revelation from God by the Pope?

I did some prior research on the Catholic doctrine on the use of contraceptives and condoms and learnt that they differ greatly with some protestant denominations on this subject and the Pope did publish an encyclical detailing the position of the Catholic church on this matter. *Casti Connubii (1930) by Pope Pius XI* >“Since, therefore, openly departing from the uninterrupted Christian tradition some recently have judged it possible solemnly to declare another doctrine regarding this question, the Catholic Church, to whom God has entrusted the defense of the integrity and purity of morals, standing erect in the midst of the moral ruin which surrounds her, in order that she may preserve the chastity of the nuptial union from being defiled by this foul stain, raises her voice in token of her divine ambassadorship and through Our mouth proclaims anew: any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life is an offense against the law of God and of nature, and those who indulge in such are branded with the guilt of a grave sin.” Was this inspired by the Biblical basis where God commanded all human beings to be fruitful, to multiply and fill the whole world or there are more Bible passages that support this doctrine? *Genesis 1:28* >“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.” Would prefer an answer from followers of the Catholic faith.

In Fratelli Tutti Pope Francis wrote, quoting his 2016 World Day of Peace Address that: > Communicators also have a responsibility for education and formation, especially nowadays, when the means of information and communication are so widespread. Their duty is first and foremost to serve the truth, and not particular interests. > > [Fratelli Tutti 114](http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html) By "Communicators" is he talking about journalists? The media in general or is it broader to mean communication platforms such as Facebook and Twitter? I was reading through Fratelli Tutti and that word "Communicators" struck me as odd, the link back to the Holy Father's other declaration showed me he was talking about the media, but given the context of Fratelli Tutti I'm thinking he's talking about something different. So in general, when Pope Francis uses the vague term "Communicators" which may not be so vague in Italian, who is he talking about?

Is there an expedient way to find out if a given some particular biblical verse, it has been invoked in either a papal encyclical or a document of an ecumenical council without having to retrieve that document and read through it? For example, if I wanted to know if 2 Pet. 3:16 has been quoted such, is there some papal data center that I may access in order to see where may have been quoted? If not, is there some way to do the same for the more general book and chapter; say, 2 Pet. 3 in this case. Thank you.

In the 1905 papal encyclical (Acerbo Nimis) of Pope St. Pius X, one finds, for example: > 19. I. On every Sunday and holy day, with no exception, throughout the year, all parish priests and in general all those having the care of souls, shall instruct the boys and girls, for the space of an hour from the text of the Catechism on those things they must believe and do in order to attain salvation. - [*Acerbo Nimis*](https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-x/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-x_enc_15041905_acerbo-nimis.html) QUESTION: Has *Acerbo Nimis* been revoked; or is it (as it would seem) largely being ignored? In general, are papal encyclicals always in effect unless otherwise specified or revoked? Thank you.

**Does the Catholic Church consider all encyclicals infallible?** > Although the term "encyclical" originally simply meant a circulating letter, it acquired a more specific meaning within the context of the Catholic Church. In 1740, Pope Benedict XIV wrote a letter titled *Ubi primum*, which is generally regarded as the first encyclical. The term is now used almost exclusively for a kind of letter sent out by the pope. > > For the modern Roman Catholic Church, a papal encyclical is a specific category of papal document, a kind of pastoral letter concerning Catholic doctrine, sent by the pope and usually addressed especially to patriarchs, primates, archbishops and bishops who are in communion with the Holy See. The form of the address can vary widely and may concern bishops in a particular area, or designate a wider audience. Papal encyclicals usually take the form of a papal brief because of their more personal nature as opposed to the formal papal bull. They are usually written in Latin, and like most papal documents the title of the encyclical is usually taken from its first few words (its incipit). - [Encyclical](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclical)

I am reading through certain encyclicals from Popes on economics, and I wanted to know how binding they are on my beliefs (if I were to be a Catholic who follows church teaching). Are they binding? Do I have to accept them unequivocally? Or are they merely opinions of the writers, that don't necessarily have to be adhered to in order to be in good standing with Rome?

I started praying the Rosary after St. John Paul II added the Luminous mysteries to the Rosary, so I virtually no remembrance of a Rosary being prayed before they came on board. When he writes about them in [Rosarium Virginus Mariae](http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp2rosar.htm) he kind of just slides them in and says what he _thinks_ they should be. > Moving on from the infancy and the hidden life in Nazareth to the public life of Jesus, our contemplation brings us to those mysteries which may be called in a special way “mysteries of light”. Certainly the whole mystery of Christ is a mystery of light. He is the “light of the world” (Jn 8:12). Yet this truth emerges in a special way during the years of his public life, when he proclaims the Gospel of the Kingdom. In proposing to the Christian community five significant moments – “luminous” mysteries – during this phase of Christ's life, I think that the following can be fittingly singled out: (1) his Baptism in the Jordan, (2) his self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana, (3) his proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with his call to conversion, (4) his Transfiguration, and finally, (5) his institution of the Eucharist, as the sacramental expression of the Paschal Mystery. So, does anyone know what prompted him to add more mysteries? He explains why he chooses the individual mysteries in the letter, but he doesn't really say why he thinks that the Rosary needed more stuff.

Many Catholic friends of mine are seeking religious exemptions to the various Covid-19 mandates. Especially ones who either work from home can prove acquired immunity. For them, notwithstanding the argument against infanticide - which is very strong, the argument against reason is antecedent. When Pope John Paul II writes something like: > In the totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, the principle that force predominates over reason was carried to the extreme. Man was compelled to submit to a conception of reality imposed on him by coercion, and not reached by virtue of his own reason and the exercise of his own freedom. This principle must be overturned and total recognition must be given to the rights of the human conscience, which is bound only to the truth, both natural and revealed. The recognition of these rights represents the primary foundation of every authentically free political order > > [Centesiumus Annus p.29](https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_01051991_centesimus-annus.html) It gives them pause, they are being told that they cannot use political or sociological arguments for not getting vaccinated, but this is an argument put forth by the Holy Father, promulgated to the entire world that rights of human conscience _natural_ and _revealed_ must be respected or else we're headed to ruin. It could be argued that the common good is served by standing up for reason over and above the common good of boosting numbers of vaccinated individuals. I could argue that all day long, but St. John Paul II bolsters my argument and phrases it in a perfect way I could never even dream of. I believe he was divinely inspired. Now, for the purpose of my question. Do the Popes intend the faithful to assent to the truths they speak in their encyclicals as a matter of faith or as a matter of reason?

I have seen Wikipedia discussion of Pope Pius IX's 1848 Epistle to the Easterners, and while the discussion mentions a now removed link to catholicencyclicals.net which apparently was a resource on the encyclical but did not include its text, I haven't been able to obtain the Latin wording of the encyclical's title, nor pin down the text. What is a URL to the full text of the encyclical, preferably on vatican.va? Thanks,

Somewhere in my readings (I forget exactly where) I came across the following chain of events: 1) The Philosophy of Aristotle regarding the regularity of science --- scientific laws can be relied upon for future predictions --- acquired acceptance in the Catholic Church thanks to St. Thomas Aquinas. 2) The philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas acquired great deference, to the point of being mentioned very favorably in a council decree. 3) Science gained prominence as a reliable explanation of many aspects of the world. 4) Someone(?) proposed that God had setup the material world to obey the scientific laws, and that therefore those laws could not be violated, even by God. 5) Against this, the Pope of the time issued some kind of document saying that God is sovereign, and is not Himself bound by the regular laws he established for nature, and that therefore He is free to act independent of these laws in specific instances (or to abrogate them entirely?). I am looking for the name of the encyclical (or other similar document) mentioned in (5). Hopefully someone will have its name. Thanks!

Does Pope Francis'rewording on the subject of capital punishment in the Catechism of the Catholic Church trump those of Pope John Paul II in his encyclical letter ***Evangelium vitae***? I have always looked on the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a teaching aid towards catholic teachings. But Pope Francis' rewording of the Church's teaching seems to be in contradiction to the words of Pope St. John Paul II in his **Gospel of Life** (*Evagelium vitae*) which permits such an application in very limited circumstances. > 56. This is the context in which to place the problem of the death penalty. On this matter there is a growing tendency, both in the Church and in civil society, to **demand that it be applied in a very limited way** or even that it be abolished completely. The problem must be viewed in the context of a system of penal justice ever more in line with human dignity and thus, in the end, with God's plan for man and society. The primary purpose of the punishment which society inflicts is "to redress the disorder caused by the offence".46 Public authority must redress the violation of personal and social rights by imposing on the offender an adequate punishment for the crime, as a condition for the offender to regain the exercise of his or her freedom. In this way authority also fulfils the purpose of defending public order and ensuring people's safety, while at the same time offering the offender an incentive and help to change his or her behaviour and be rehabilitated. - EVANGELIUM VITAE Since these words are from an encyclical and the rewording of Pope Francis on the subject of capital punishment are not, do Pope John Paul II encyclical letter holds precedence over the Catechism of the Catholic Church's wording as 2018? Pope Francis does not seem to address the possibility that inmates can and have ordered the killing of innocent individual while being incarcerated. A few evil doers will almost always find a way to do evil even from prison. Just ask the Devil and he is equally incarcerated in hell. There are more cases in which moral theologians can see that incarcerations or even detention would not be advisable either in some emergency situations. Pope Francis on capital punishment: doctrine built on shifting sands? > The death penalty > > Recourse to the death penalty on the part of legitimate authority, following a fair trial, was long considered an appropriate response to the gravity of certain crimes and an acceptable, albeit extreme, means of safeguarding the common good. > > Today, however, there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state. Lastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption. > > **Consequently, the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person”**, and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide. - Vatican Press Office

Pope Francis has just released an Apostolic Exhortation called Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) . He also released an Encyclical Letter in the summer called Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith) . What is the difference between these two types of documents? Is one considered to be more important than the other?

A number of books have been published with Pope Francis as the author, such as *The Joy of the Gospel: Evangelii Gaudium* in 2013 and *Praise Be To You – Laudato Si'; On Care for Our Common Home* in 2015. Are these books actually written by the man himself, or are they ghostwritten by others?

I was reading *Humanae Vitae* today and noticed that there's no section for people who want to date and get married (involuntary singles/celibates), but women never give them a chance to go on a date with them. Why does the Catholic Church seem forget about this group? The Catholic Church says that marriage is a choice of free will, but some are not given a chance to meet someone and go on dates despite how hard they try to meet someone, when beyond their inability to date they're normal completely.

Could someone tell me what the earliest Papal statement or encyclical was where the Church condemned the institution of slavery? A Magisterial document would also be accepted if there are earlier teachings by the magisterium.

Many encyclicals are directed not only to Catholics but to all "people of good will". Just a few examples: - [Laudato si](http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html) : >62. Why should this document, addressed to all people of good will, include a chapter dealing with ... - [Pacem in Terram](http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_j-xxiii_enc_11041963_pacem.html) : > [...] and to the Clergy and Faithful of the entire Catholic World, and to all Men of Good Will. - [Populorum Progressio](http://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_26031967_populorum.html) : >To the Bishops, Priests, Religious, and Faithful of the Whole Catholic World, and to All Men of Good Will. Is there an **official** understanding by the Catholic church of what people of good will mean? I searched through the [Cathecism](http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM) , but the [two references](http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/4/GR.HTM) to good-will that exists are not related to the above. I also searched the [Catholic Encyclopedia](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05413a.htm) , without success.

I am interested to know if there are any encyclicals which specifically compare the sacrifice of the Mass with the Temple sacrifices of the old Testament, wherein Jesus himself takes the place of the sacrificial animal. I know this is standard Catholic Theology, and I know we Catholics talk freely about the sacrifice of the Mass (certainly the words of the liturgy points us in that direction). But I want to read an actual encyclical where the link between Jesus and the animal sacrificed in the Temple of old is made explicitly clear. The catechism of course mentions the Mass as a sacrifice, but it doesn't get into the exact details of what corresponds with what.

Looking at the Vatican's website it seems *Laudato si'* is the first encyclical that has no official Latin version, while the previous one, *Lumen Fidei*, had. Is this true?

I need a list of papal encyclicals/bulls in which both Jews and Freemasons are mentioned in the same document.