List of encyclicals of Pope Pius XII

This is a list of encyclicals of Pope Pius XII. Pope Pius XII issued 41 Papal Encyclicals, during his reign as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church for over 19 years, from his election of March 2, 1939 until his death on October 9, 1958. The fourtyone encyclicals of Pope Pius XII exceed the thirtytwo encyclicals written by all his successors, Pope John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II and Benedict XVI during the following fifty years (1958-2008).

The encyclicals of Pius XII

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6. || "Orientalis Ecclesiae" || "Of the Eastern Church" || On St. Cyril, Patriarch of Antioch || April 9 1944 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_09041944_orientalis-ecclesiae_en.html (English)]
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7. || "Communium Interpretes" || "Interpreter of the universal anguish" || On Ending the Second World War || April 15 1945 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_15041945_communium-interpretes-dolorum_en.html (English)]
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8. || "Orientales Omnes" || "All the Eastern Churches" || On the 250th Anniversary of Reunion of the Ruthenian Church with Rome || December 23 1945 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_23121945_orientales-omnes-ecclesias_en.html (English)]
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9. || "Quemadmodum" || || On Pleading for Care for the World's Destitute Children || January 6 1946 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_06011946_quemadmodum_en.html (English)]
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10. || "Deiparae Virginis Mariae" || "Of the Blessed Virgin Mary" || Should We Define the Assumption? || May 1 1946 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_01051946_deiparae-virginis-mariae_en.html (English)]
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11. || "Fulgens Radiatur" || "The radiant light" || On the Brilliant Light of Saint Benedict || March 21 1947 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_21031947_fulgens-radiatur_en.html (English)]
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12. || "Mediator Dei" || "Mediator of God" || On the Sacred Liturgy || November 20 1947 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_20111947_mediator-dei_en.html (English)]
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13. || "Optatissima Pax" || "Longed-for peace" || On Prescribing Public Prayers for Social and World Peace || December 18 1947 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_18121947_optatissima-pax_en.html (English)]
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14. || "Auspicia Quaedam" || || Prayers for World Peace and the Solution Of The Problems Of Palestine |-
| May 1 1948 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_01051948_auspicia-quaedam_en.html (English)]
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15. || "In Multiplicibus Curis" || "Among the multiple preoccupations" || On Prayers for Peace in Palestine || October 24 1948 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_24101948_in-multiplicibus-curis_en.html (English)]
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16. || "Redemptoris Nostri Cruciatus" || "The Passion of Our Redeemer" || On Holy Places in Palestine || April 15 1949 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_15041949_redemptoris-nostri-cruciatus_en.html (English)]
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17. || "Anni Sacri" || "On the Holy Year" || On a Program For Combating Atheistic Propaganda Throughout The World || March 12 1950 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12031950_anni-sacri_en.html (English)]
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18. || "Summi Maeroris" || "With the deepest sorrow" || On a Call for Public Prayers for Peace || July 19 1950 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_19071950_summi-maeroris_en.html (English)]
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19. || "Humani Generis" || "On Human Origin" || Concerning Some False Opinions Threatening to Undermine the Foundations of Catholic Doctrine || August 12 1950 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html (English)]
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20. || "Mirabile Illud" || "That admirable" || On a Crusade for Prayers for Peace || December 6 1950 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_06121950_mirabile-illud_en.html (English)]
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21. || "Evangelii Praecones" || "Toiling missionaries" || On the Promotion of Catholic Missions || June 2 1951 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_02061951_evangelii-praecones_en.html (English)]
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22. || "Sempiternus Rex Christus" || "Christ, the Eternal King" || On the Council of Chalcedon || September 8 1951 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_08091951_sempiternus-rex-christus_en.html (English)]
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23. || "Ingruentium Malorum" || "Approaching evil" || On Reciting the Rosary || September 15 1951 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_15091951_ingruentium-malorum_en.html (English)]
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24. || "Orientales Ecclesias" || "The Oriental Churches" || On The Persecuted Eastern Church and describing the hopeless situation of the faithful in Bulgaria || December 15 1952|| [http://www.catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?recnum=4968 (English)]
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25. || "Doctor Mellifluus" || "Sweet Doctor" || On St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Last of the Fathers || May 24 1953 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_24051953_doctor-mellifluus_en.html (English)]
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26. || "Fulgens Corona" || "The radiant crown" || Proclaiming a Marian Year to Commemorate the Centenary of the Definition of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception || September 8 1953 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_08091953_fulgens-corona_en.html (English)]
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27. || "Sacra Virginitas" || "On Holy Virginity" || On Consecrated Virginity || March 25 1954 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_25031954_sacra-virginitas_en.html (English)]
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28. || "Ecclesiae Fastos" || "History of the Church" || On St. Boniface || June 5 1952 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_05061954_ecclesiae-fastos_en.html (English)]
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29. || "Ad Sinarum Gentem" || "To the Chinese people" || On the Supranationality of the Church || October 7 1954 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_07101954_ad-sinarum-gentem_en.html (English)]
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30. || "Ad Caeli Reginam" || "To the Queen of Heaven" || On Proclaiming the Queenship of Mary || October 11 1954 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_11101954_ad-caeli-reginam_en.html (English)]
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31. || "Musicae Sacrae" || "Of Sacred Music" || On Sacred Music || December 25 1955 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_25121955_musicae-sacrae_en.html (English)]
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32. || "Haurietis Aquas" || "You shall draw waters" || On Devotion to the Sacred Heart || May 15 1956 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_15051956_haurietis-aquas_en.html (English)]
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33. || "Luctuosissimi Eventus" || "Sorrowful events" || Urging Public Prayers for Peace and Freedom for the People of Hungary || October 28 1956 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_28101956_luctuosissimi-eventus_en.html (English)]
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34. || "Laetamur Admodum" || "We are most pleased" || Renewing Exhortation for Prayers for Peace in Poland, Hungary, and the Middle East || November 1 1956 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_01111956_laetamur-admodum_en.html (English)]
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35. || "Datis Nuperrime" || || Lamenting the Sorrowful Events in Hungary, and Condemning the Ruthless Use of Force || November 5 1956 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_02071957_le-pelerinage-de-lourdes_en.html (English)]
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36. || "Fidei Donum" || "The gift of faith" || On the Present Condition of the Catholic Missions, especially in Africa || April 21 1957 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_21041957_fidei-donum_en.html (English)]
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37. || "Invicti Athletae" || "Of the unconquered athlete" || On St. Andrew Bobola || May 16 1957 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_16051957_invicti-athletae_en.html (English)]
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38. || "Le Pelerinage de Lourdes" || "Of the pilgrimage to Lourdes" || Warning Against Materialism on the Centenary of the Apparitions at Lourdes || July 2 1957 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_02071957_le-pelerinage-de-lourdes_en.html (English)]
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39. || "Miranda Prorsus" || || On the Communications Fields: Motion Pictures, Radio, Television || September 8 1957 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_08091957_miranda-prorsus_en.html (English)]
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40. || "Meminisse Juvat" || "It is helpful to recall" || On Prayers for the Persecuted Church || July 14 1958|| [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_14071958_meminisse-iuvat_en.html (English)]
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41. || "Ad Apostolorum Principis" || "At the Prince of the Apostles" || On Communism and the Church in China || June 29 1958 || [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_29061958_ad-apostolorum-principis_en.html (English)]

Background

An encyclical (from Latin "encyclia", from the Greek "en kyklo, Polytonic|ἐν κύκλῳ", meaning "general" or "encircling") was a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Christian church. For the modern Roman Catholic Church, a Papal Encyclical, in the strictest sense, is a letter sent by the Pope which is explicitly addressed to Roman Catholic bishops of a particular area or to the world, usually treating some aspect of Catholic doctrine. A Papal Encyclical is generally used for significant issues, and is second in importance only to the highest ranking document now issued by popes, an Apostolic Constitution.

The title of a Papal Encyclical is usually taken from its first few words.

View of Pope Pius XII

Pope Pius XII held that Papal Encyclicals, even when they are not "ex cathedra", can nonetheless be sufficiently authoritative to end theological debate on a particular question: cquote| It is not to be thought that what is set down in Encyclical letters does not demand assent in itself, because in this the popes do not exercise the supreme power of their magisterium. For these matters are taught by the ordinary magisterium, regarding which the following is pertinent: “He who heareth you, heareth Me.” (Luke 10:16); and usually what is set forth and inculcated in Encyclical Letters, already pertains to Catholic doctrine. But if the Supreme Pontiffs in their acts, after due consideration, express an opinion on a hitherto controversial matter, it is clear to all that this matter, according to the mind and will of the same Pontiffs, cannot any longer be considered a question of free discussion among theologians.
:—"Humani Generis"

The use of encyclicals by Pius XII

Encyclicals indicate high Papalpriority for a issue at a given time. Only pontiffs define when, and under which circumstances encyclicals should be issued. They may choose to issue an apostolic constitution, bull, encyclical, apostolic letter or give a papal speech. Pontiffs differ on the use of encyclicals: On the issue of birth control and contraception for example, Pope Pius XI issued the encyclical Casti Connubii, while Pope Pius XII spoke to midwives and the medical profession, when he clarified his position on the issue. [Acta Apostolicae Sedis, (AAS) 1951, 835, AAS 1958, 90, AAS 1941, 40, AAS 1952, 258] Pope Paul VI published an encyclical Humanae Vitae on the same topic. On matters of war and peace, Pope Pius XII issued ten encyclicals, most of them after 1945, three of them Datis Nuperrime, Sertum Laetitiae, Luctuosissimi Eventus protesting the Soviet invasion and crackdown of the Hungarian revolution in 1956. Pope Paul VI spoke about the war in Vietnam and Pope John Paul II, issued his protest against the war in Iraq in speeches. On social issues, Pope Leo XIII promulgated Rerum Novarum, followed by Quadragesimo Anno of Pius XI, and Centesimus Annus by John Paul II. Pius XII spoke on the same topic to a consistory of cardinals in his Christmas messages and to numerous academic and professional associations. [ Allocution to the Cardinals AAS 1946, 141, and, AAS 1952, 5, AAS 1955, 15; ] The magisterium of Pius XII is therefore significantly larger than the below listed 41 encyclicals. Most of the detailed teachings are in his papal speeches on specific topics such as:

* Conscience, guilt and fair punishment, [AAS, 1955, 60,]
* Ethics of psychological reasearch, [AAS 1958, 268,]
* Farmers, [AAS 1950, 251 ] ,
* Fashion Industry [AAS 1957] , 1011,
* Formation of conscience, [AA", 1952, 270] ,
* Genetic research, [AAS 1953, 666] ,
* Human dignity, [AAS 1951, 215] ,
* Medical doctors and the use of weapons, [AAS 1954, 587] ,
* Military medical research [AAS 1953, 744] ,

External links

* [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/index.htm Pope Pius XII Encyclicals] (most in English, Italian, Portuguese with some in French, Italian, Spanish and one in German) - from the Papal Archive at the internet site of the Holy See.
* [http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius12/index.htm PapalEncyclicals.net - Pope Pius XII] - online copies

Quotes