Vatican Documents

Vatican documents include, in descending order of formal authority: 
Note: A glossary of documents is provided at the bottom of this page.

  • apostolic constitutions
  • encyclical letters
  • encyclical epistles
  • apostolic exhortations
  • apostolic letters
  • letters and messages



Encyclical Letter Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI
God is Love
(Deus Caritas Est)
Saved in Hope
(Spe Salvi)
Apostolic Exhortation Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI
Sacrament of Charity
(Sacramentum Caritatis)

Apostolic Constitution
Pontificate of Pope Pius IX
Defining The Dogma Of The Immaculate Conception
(Ineffabilis Deus)
Encyclical Letter
Pontificate Pope Pius XII
The Sacred Liturgy
(Mediator Dei)
Some False Opinions Which Threaten To Undermine Catholic Doctrine
(Humani Generis)
On The Mystical Body Of Christ And Our Union In It With Christ
(Mystici Corporis)
Encyclical Letter
Pontificate Pope Leo XIII
The Restoration Of Christian Philosophy
(Aeterni Patris)
On The Study Of Sacred Scripture
(Providentissimus Deus)
On The Condition Of The Working Classes
(Rerum Novarum)
Encyclical Letter
Pontificate Pope Paul VI
Paths Of The Church
(Ecclesiam Suam)
Mystery Of Faith
(Mysterium Fidei)
Of Human Life
(Humanae Vitae)
Apostolic Exhortation
Pontificate Pope Paul VI
For The Right Ordering And Development Of
 Devotion To The Blessed Virgin Mary
(Marialis Cultus)
On Evangelization In The Modern World
(Evangelii Nuntiandi)
Credo
Pontificate Pope Paul VI
The Credo Of The People Of God
Commission For The Means Of Social Communication
Pontificate Pope Paul VI
Pastoral Instruction For The Application Of The Decree Of The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council On The Means Of Social Communication
Decree
Pontificate Pope Paul VI
Decree On The Mission Activity Of The Church
(Ad Gentes)
Decree On Ecumenism
(Unitatis Redintegratio)
Decree On The Apostolate Of The Laity
(Apostolicam Actuositatem)
Decree On The Media Of  Social Comminication
(Inter Mirifica)
Decree On The Ministry And Life Of Priests
(Presbyterorum Ordinis)
Decree Concerning The Pastoral Office Of Bishops In The Church
(Christus Dominus)
Dogmatic Constitution
Pontificate Pope Paul VI
Dogmatic Constitution On The Church
(Lumen Gentium)
Dogmatic Constitution On Divine Revelation
(Dei Verbum)
Pastoral Constitution
Pontificate Pope Paul VI
Pastoral Constitution On The Church In The Modern World
(Gaudium et Spes)
Congregation For The Doctrine Of Faith
Pontificate Pope Paul VI
Declaration On Procured Abortion
Letter On Certain Questions Concerning Eschatology
Declaration On Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics
Apostolic Exhortation
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
Catechesis In Our Time
(Catechesi Tradendae)
The Role Of The Christian Family In The Modern World
(Familiaris Consortio)
Guardian Of The Redeemer
(Redemptoris Custos)
Apostolic Letter
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
On Keeping The Lord's Day Holy
(Dies Domini)
On Reserving Priestly Ordination To Men Alone
(Ordinatio Sacerdotalis)
On The Most Holy Rosary
(Rosarium Virginis Mariae)
On The Christian Meaning Of Human Suffering
(Salvifici Doloris)
 On Preparation For The Jubilee Of The Year 2000
(Tertio Millennio Adveniente)
The Close Of The Great Jubilee Of The Year 2000
(Novo Millennio Ineunte)
Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
On The Theological And Juridical Nature Of Episcopal Conferences
(Apostolos Suos)
Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
The Lay Members Of Christ's Faithful People
(Christifideles Laici)
Reconciliation And Penance - In The Mission Of The Church Today
(Reconciliatio et Paenitentia)
I Will Give You Shepherds
(Pastores Dabo Vobis)
On The Hundredth Anniversary Of
(Rerum Novarum)
Encyclical Letter
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
On Commitment To Ecumenism
(Ut Unum Sint)
On The Relationship Between Faith And Reason
(Fides Et Ratio)
The Gospel Of Life
(Evangelium Vitae)
The Holy Spirit In The Life Of the Church And The World
(Dominum et Vivificantem)
On Human Work
(Laborem Exercens)
The Redeemer Of Man
(Redemptor Hominis)
Mission Of The Redeemer
(Redemptoris Missio)
Mother Of The Redeemer
(Redemtoris Mater)
On Social Concern
(Sollicitudo Rei Socialis)
The Splendor Of Truth
(Veritatis Splendor)
Bull of Indiction - Great Jubilee Year 2000
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
The Mystery Of The Incarnation
(Incarnationis Mysterium)
Letters of Pope John Paul II
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
The Mystery And Worship Of The Eucharist - To All Bishops of The Church
(Dominicae Cenae)
Letter To Families - 1994 Year of the Family
Letter Of The Pope To Children In The Year Of The Family
Pontifical Council For The Family
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
The Pastoral Care Of The Divorced And Remarried
(Vademecum) 
For Confessors Concerning Some Aspects Of The Morality Of Conjugal Life
Preparation For The Sacrament Of Marriage
The Truth And Meaning Of Human Sexuality
Guidelines for Education Within The family
Pontifical Council For The Laity
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
The Dignity Of Older People And 
Their Mission In The Church And In The World
Pontifical Council For Social Communications
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
Pastoral Instruction - Dawn Of A New Era
(Aetatis Novae)
On The Twentieth Anniversary Of (Communio et Progressio)
Pontifical Council For The Pastoral Care Of Migrants And Itinerant People
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
The Pilgrimage In The Great Jubilee
Instruction Of The Pontifical Biblical Commission
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
The Historicity Of The Gospels
(Sancta Mater Ecclesia)
The Interpretation Of The Bible In The Church
Pontifical Council For Christian Unity
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
The Ecumenical Dimension In The Formation Of 
Those Engaged In Pastoral Work
Directory For The Application Of The Principles And Norms Of Ecumenism
Congregation For Catholic Education
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
The Catholic School On The Threshold Of The Third Millennium
Educational Guidance In Human Love
Outlines For Sex Education
Congregation For The Clergy
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
The Priest, Pastor And Leader Of The Parish Community
The Priest Amd The Third Christian Millennium Teacher Of The Word, Minister Of The Sacraments, And Leader Of The Community
Congregation For The Doctrine Of The Faith
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
Some Aspects Of The Church Understood As Communion
In Defense Of The Catholic Doctrine On The Church
(Mysterium Ecclesiae)
Declaration On Euthanasia
(Iura et Bona)
On The Pastoral Care Of Homosexual Persons And
Non-Discrimination Against Homosexual Persons
Instruction On Mixed Marriages
(Matrimonii Sacramentum)
Instructions On Some Aspects Of The Use Of The Instruments Of Social Communication In Promoting The Doctrine Of The Faith
Instruction On Respect For Human Life In Its Origin And On The Dignity Of Procreation Replies To Certain Questions Of The Day
Instrution On Christian Freedom And Liberation
Sacred Congregation Of Rites
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
Instruction On The Liturgy
(Inter Oecumenici)
Sacred Congrgation For The Sacraments And Divine Worship
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
Instruction Concerning Worship Of The Eucharistic Mystery
(Inaestimabile Donum)
The Roman Liturgy And Inculturation
Pontifical Commission "Justice And Peace"
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
What Have You Done To Your Homeless Brother?
The Church And The Housing Problem
The Church & Racism
Sacred Congregation For Religious And For Secular Institutes
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
Essential Elements In The Church's Teaching On Religious Life As Applied To Institutes Dedicated To Works Of The Apostolate
To The General Assembly Of The United Nations
Pontificate Pope John Paul II
Negotiation The Only Realistic Solution To The Continuing
Threat Of War And Address To Men Of Science
National Conference Of Catholic Bishops
Guidelines For The Celebration Of The Sacraments
With Persons With Disabilities
Health And Health Care
A Pastoral Letter Of The American Catholic Bishops
The Handbook Of Indulgences 
Norms And Grants
A Manual For Bishops Rights And Responsibilities Of Diocesan
 In The Revised Code Of Canon Law
General Instruction Of The Roman Missal
Liturgy Documentary Series 2

   

Pastoral Letters of the United States Catholic Bishops
Volume I -  1792-1940
Pastoral Letters of the United States Catholic Bishops
Volume II -  1941-1961
Pastoral Letters of the United States Catholic Bishops
Volume III -  1962-1974
Pastoral Letters of the United States Catholic Bishops
Volume IV -  1975-1983

 


Pastoral Letters of the United States Catholic Bishops
Volume V -  1983-1988
Pastoral Letters of the United States Catholic Bishops
Volume VI -  1989-1997


Glossary of Vatican Documents

Vatican documents include, in descending order of formal authority: apostolic constitutions, encyclical letters, encyclical epistles, apostolic exhortations, apostolic letters, letters and messages.

Apostolic Constitution

Document of the highest authority, issued by the Pope, or by a Church Council with the Pope's approval. Apostolic constitutions today have the authority of the ancient apostolic constitutions, a collection of laws from the late fourth century, which included 85 canons attributed to the Apostles dealing with ordinations, official responsibilities, and the moral behavior of bishops and priests. They eventually became the basis for canon law in the West, when used to proclaim a Church dogma, a Dogmatic Constitution.; when used for pastoral teaching,  a Pastoral Constitution.

Encyclical Letter

A pastoral letter written by the Pope to the entire Church, generally concerning matters of doctrine, morals or discipline, or significant commemorations. Its formal title is the first few words of its official text, usually in Latin.
From the Latin encyclicus and the Greek enkyklios, circular. Encyclicals are not divinely inspired and do not contain new revelation, but they are authoritative teaching instruments from the Vicar of Christ.

Apostolic Exhortation

A letter written by the Pope to the Church encouraging its people to take some particular action. Because apostolic exhortations do not define the development of doctrine, they are lower in formal authority than encyclical letters, which are directed to the whole Church and which may define development of doctrine.

Apostolic Letter

Document issued by the Pope or by a Vatican dicastery, usually for lesser appointments, erecting or dividing mission territory, designating basilicas, approving religious congregations, and other uses at a comparable level of importance.

Letters

A letter is written by the Pope, the head of a dicastery, or other Vatican office to a Vatican official, the head of a religious order or other dignitary. The contents are of interest primarily to those to whom they are addressed. Vatican offices also use letters to address points of doctrine or discipline that are not significant enough to require the Holy Father's personal attention, or points that have already been addressed by the Holy Father but require clarification.