Apostolic exhortation
Encyclopedia
An apostolic exhortation is a type of communication from the Pope
of the Roman Catholic Church
. It encourages a community of people to undertake a particular activity, but does not define Church doctrine
. It is considered lower in formal authority than a papal encyclical, but higher than other ecclesiastical letters.
Apostolic exhortations are commonly issued in response to a synod
of bishop
s, in which case they are known as post-synodal apostolic exhortations.
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. It encourages a community of people to undertake a particular activity, but does not define Church doctrine
Doctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
. It is considered lower in formal authority than a papal encyclical, but higher than other ecclesiastical letters.
Apostolic exhortations are commonly issued in response to a synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
of bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s, in which case they are known as post-synodal apostolic exhortations.
Notable exhortations
- Christifideles LaiciChristifideles LaiciChristifideles Laici is the name of a post-synodal apostolic exhortation of Pope John Paul II, signed in Rome on December 30, 1988. It is summary of the teaching that arose from the 1987 synod of bishops on the vocation and mission of the laity in the Church and the World.The goal of the document...
(Christ’s Faithful People) - Ecclesia in AmericaEcclesia in America"Ecclesia in America" is the apostolic exhortation written by Pope John Paul II, published on 22 January 1999. The exhortation follows up on the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops, which met in the Vatican from 16 November to 12 December 1997. It addresses the Church in the...
(The Church in America) - Ecclesia in AsiaEcclesia in AsiaEcclesia in Asia is a document issued by Pope to serve as a blueprint for the expansion of the Roman Catholic faith in Asia. It summarises ideas and conclusions of the Special Asian Synod held in Rome from April 18 to May 14, 1998...
(The Church in Asia) - Ecclesia in Europa (The Church in Europe)
- Evangelii NuntiandiEvangelii NuntiandiEvangelii Nuntiandi is an apostolic exhortation issued on 8 December 1975 by Pope Paul VI following the work of the synod on the theme...
(On Evangelization in the Modern Age) - Familiaris ConsortioFamiliaris ConsortioFamiliaris Consortio is a postsynodal Apostolic Exhortation written by Pope John Paul II and promulgated on November 22, 1981.It describes the official position of the Roman Catholic Church concerning the meaning and role of marriage and the family,...
(On the Christian Family in the Modern World) - Pastores Gregis (For the Hope of the World)
- Pastores Dabo VobisPastores Dabo VobisPastores Dabo Vobis - is an apostolic exhortation released on March 25, 1992 by Pope John Paul II. It concerns the formation of priests and is addressed to both clergy and the lay faithful of the Catholic Church.-External links:*...
(Shepherds After My Own Heart) - Reconciliatio and Pœnitentia (On Reconciliation and Penance)
- Redemptoris CustosRedemptoris CustosRedemptoris Custos is the title of an Apostolic exhortation by Pope John Paul II on Saint Joseph. It was delivered on August 15, 1989 in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome on the occasion of the centenary of Pope Leo XIII's Encyclical Epistle Quamquam Pluries.This exhortation is part of the...
(Guardian of The Redeemer) - Sacramentum CaritatisSacramentum CaritatisSacramentum Caritatis is the first post-synodal apostolic exhortation by Pope Benedict XVI. It was signed February 22, 2007.The document expounded on the sacrament of the Eucharist...
(On the Sacrament of Love) - Verbum DominiVerbum DominiVerbum Domini is a post-synodal apostolic exhortation issued by Pope Benedict XVI which deals with how the Catholic church should approach the Bible...
(On the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church) - Vita Consecrata (On the Consecrated Life)
- Africae munus (On the Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace)