Pope John XXIII

Pope John XXIII

-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...

 issued eight Papal Encyclical

Encyclical

An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Catholic Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop...

s during his five-year reign as Pope

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...

, from his election on October 28, 1958 until his death on June 3, 1963. Two of his encylicals, Mater et Magistra

Mater et Magistra

"Mater et Magistra" is the encyclical written by Pope John XXIII on the topic of "Christianity and Social Progress". It was promulgated on May 15, 1961. The title means "mother and teacher", referring to the role of the church. It describes a necessity to work towards authentic community in order...

and Pacem in Terris

Pacem in Terris

Pacem in Terris was a papal encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII on 11 April 1963. It was the last encyclical drafted by John XXIII, who died from cancer two months after its completion ....

, are especially important. A Papal Encyclical is a letter sent by the Pope which is addressed to Roman Catholic 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 a particular area or the whole world. Encyclicals may condemn errors, point out threats to faith and morals, exhort faithful practices, or provide remedies for present and future dangers to the church. The authority of the encyclical varies depending on the circumstances and is not necessarily ex cathedra

Ex Cathedra

Ex Cathedra is a British choir and early music ensemble based in Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. It performs choral music spanning the 15th to 21st centuries, and regularly commissions new works....

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

Incipit

Incipit is a Latin word meaning "it begins". The incipit of a text, such as a poem, song, or book, is the first few words of its opening line. In music, it can also refer to the opening notes of a composition. Before the development of titles, texts were often referred to by their incipits...

.

Pope John XXIII's first encyclical, Ad Petri Cathedram

Ad Petri Cathedram

Ad Petri Cathedram was the first encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII on 29 June, 1959. It was promulgated eight months into the pontificate and addresses truth, unity and peace...

, was issued eight months into his pontificate and was neither an important social document nor doctrinal exposition. Instead it looked at truth, unity and peace with distinctive familiarity and concern. The second, Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia

Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia

Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia was the second encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII, and was issued on 1 August 1959. It commemorated the 100th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests....

, commemorated the 100th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, while Grata Recordatio

Grata Recordatio

Grata Recordatio was the third encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII, and was issued on 26 September 1959. It urges the use of the Rosary in the month of October following the tradition to do so by Pope Leo XIII.-References:*....

considered the use of the Rosary

Rosary

The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...

. Princeps Pastorum

Princeps Pastorum

Princeps Pastorum is the title of an encyclical letter promulgated by Pope John XXIII on November 28, 1959. It is derived from a biblical passage: I Peter 5:4. In its English translation the letter opens with the phrase On the day when "the Prince of the Shepherds" entrusted to Us His lambs and...

, his fourth encyclical, used 1 Peter 5:4 as its biblical text and celebrated Roman Catholic missions.

Mater et Magistra

Mater et Magistra

"Mater et Magistra" is the encyclical written by Pope John XXIII on the topic of "Christianity and Social Progress". It was promulgated on May 15, 1961. The title means "mother and teacher", referring to the role of the church. It describes a necessity to work towards authentic community in order...

, the fifth encyclical, carried forward ideas from Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum

Rerum Novarum

Rerum Novarum is an encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII on May 15, 1891. It was an open letter, passed to all Catholic bishops, that addressed the condition of the working classes. The encyclical is entitled: “Rights and Duties of Capital and Labour”...

(1891), which had been issued 70 years before, and Pius XI's Quadragesimo Anno

Quadragesimo Anno

Quadragesimo Anno is an encyclical written by Pope Pius XI, issued 15 May 1931, 40 years after Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum. Unlike Leo XIII, who addressed the condition of workers, Pius XI discusses the ethical implications of the social and economic order...

(1931). It considers social ethics with its most important point being the application of natural law

Natural law

Natural law, or the law of nature , is any system of law which is purportedly determined by nature, and thus universal. Classically, natural law refers to the use of reason to analyze human nature and deduce binding rules of moral behavior. Natural law is contrasted with the positive law Natural...

 to the international community. It is one of the longest encyclicals, at more than 25,000 words. The sixth encyclical, Aeterna Dei Sapientia

Aeterna Dei Sapientia

Aeterna Dei Sapientia was the sixth encyclical made by Pope John XXIII, and was issued on 11 November 1961. It commemorates the fifteenth centennial of the death of Pope Leo I and calls for Christendom to unite against external movements such as Communism and secularism.-External links:* from the...

, commemorated the death of Pope Leo I

Pope Leo I

Pope Leo I was pope from September 29, 440 to his death.He was an Italian aristocrat, and is the first pope of the Catholic Church to have been called "the Great". He is perhaps best known for having met Attila the Hun in 452, persuading him to turn back from his invasion of Italy...

 and called for unity within Christendom

Christendom

Christendom, or the Christian world, has several meanings. In a cultural sense it refers to the worldwide community of Christians, adherents of Christianity...

 from external movements such as Communism

Communism

Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...

 and secularism

Secularism

Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...

. The penultimate encyclical, Paenitentiam Agere

Paenitentiam Agere

Paenitentiam Agere was the seventh encyclical made by Pope John XXIII, and was issued on 1 July 1962. It calls on Christians to practice penance and considers the upcoming Second Vatican Council.-External links:* from the Holy See....

, considered penance and the then-upcoming Second Vatican Council

Second Vatican Council

The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...

. Pope John XXIII's final encyclical, Pacem in Terris

Pacem in Terris

Pacem in Terris was a papal encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII on 11 April 1963. It was the last encyclical drafted by John XXIII, who died from cancer two months after its completion ....

, was written two months before his death. It is long—over 15,000 words—and is the first in history to have been addressed to "all men of good will," rather than only the bishops and laity of the Roman Catholic Church. It was hailed as "one of the most profound and significant documents of our age."

Encyclicals

No.	Latin Latin Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...	English English language English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...  translation	Subject	Date	Text
1.	Ad Petri Cathedram Ad Petri Cathedram Ad Petri Cathedram was the first encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII on 29 June, 1959. It was promulgated eight months into the pontificate and addresses truth, unity and peace...	"To the chair of Peter"	On truth, unity and peace in a spirit of charity.	29 June 1959	(English)
2.	Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia was the second encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII, and was issued on 1 August 1959. It commemorated the 100th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests....	"From the beginning of our priesthood"	On St. John Vianney.	1 August 1959	(English)
3.	Grata Recordatio Grata Recordatio Grata Recordatio was the third encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII, and was issued on 26 September 1959. It urges the use of the Rosary in the month of October following the tradition to do so by Pope Leo XIII.-References:*....	"With joyful recollection"	On the Rosary: Prayer for the church, missions, international and social problems.	26 September 1959	(English)
4.	Princeps Pastorum Princeps Pastorum Princeps Pastorum is the title of an encyclical letter promulgated by Pope John XXIII on November 28, 1959. It is derived from a biblical passage: I Peter 5:4. In its English translation the letter opens with the phrase On the day when "the Prince of the Shepherds" entrusted to Us His lambs and...	"The prince of the shepherds"	On the missions, native clergy, and lay participation.	28 November 1959	(English)
5.	Mater et Magistra Mater et Magistra "Mater et Magistra" is the encyclical written by Pope John XXIII on the topic of "Christianity and Social Progress". It was promulgated on May 15, 1961. The title means "mother and teacher", referring to the role of the church. It describes a necessity to work towards authentic community in order...	"Mother and Teacher"	On Christianity and social progress.	15 May 1961	(English)
6.	Aeterna Dei Sapientia Aeterna Dei Sapientia Aeterna Dei Sapientia was the sixth encyclical made by Pope John XXIII, and was issued on 11 November 1961. It commemorates the fifteenth centennial of the death of Pope Leo I and calls for Christendom to unite against external movements such as Communism and secularism.-External links:* from the...	"God's eternal wisdom"	On commemorating the fifteenth centennial of the death of Pope St. Leo I.	11 November 1961	(English)
7.	Paenitentiam Agere Paenitentiam Agere Paenitentiam Agere was the seventh encyclical made by Pope John XXIII, and was issued on 1 July 1962. It calls on Christians to practice penance and considers the upcoming Second Vatican Council.-External links:* from the Holy See....	"Penance for sins"	On the need for the practice of interior and exterior penance.	1 July 1962	(English)
8.	Pacem in Terris Pacem in Terris Pacem in Terris was a papal encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII on 11 April 1963. It was the last encyclical drafted by John XXIII, who died from cancer two months after its completion ....	"Peace on Earth"	On establishing universal peace in truth, justice, charity, and liberty.	11 April 1963	(English)

External links

• Vatican archives for Pope John XXIII