Papal Documents
Amoris Laetitia: The Joy of Love - Francis (2016)
The second Apostlic Exhortation of Pope Francis' Pontificate is dedicated to the family and family life. In it, the Pontiff tenderly urges Catholics around the world to a new way of being and loving.
Laudato Si': On the Care of Our Common Home - Francis (2015)
The first Encyclical of Pope Francis' Pontificate is also the first Encylical of the Church dedicated to the environment. In it, he sounds a clarion call to the Church about not only the implications of climate change itself but also the urgency with which it must be addressed.
DEUS CARITAS EST (2005) – Pope Benedict XVI
Perhaps no Pope in history has come to the office as well known to the Catholic public as Benedict XVI. As head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was often referred to as Pope John Paul II’s "lightening rod" and "God’s Rotweiller".
REDEMPTOR HOMINIS (1979) – Pope John Paul II
Redemptor Hominis (Redeemer of Man), promulgated on the 4th March, 1979, was the first encyclical of John Paul II.
VERITATIS SPLENDOR (1993) – Pope John Paul II
The Church has always also encouraged moral thinkers of faith to “do Theology” about moral matters. Veritatis Splendor (‘VS’ hereafter) (‘The Splendour of Truth’ in Latin) is a rather different encyclical from many others in that it addresses some fundamental technical questions of Moral Theology.
PACEM IN TERRIS (1963) – Pope John XXIII
Pacem in Terris, (On Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity and Liberty) was promulgated by Pope John XXIII on 11th April, 1963, two months before his death.
LABOREM EXERCENS (1981) – Pope John Paul II
The body of work that was to become known as Catholic Social Teaching began with an Encyclical letter written by Pope Leo XII in 1891 called Rerum Novarum (On the Condition of Labour).
