encyclical

[ en-sik-li-kuhl, -sahy-kli- ]

noun

1. Roman Catholic Church. a letter addressed by the pope to all the bishops of the church.

adjective

1. (of a letter) intended for wide or general circulation; general.

encyclical

/ ɛnˈsɪklɪkəl /

noun

1. a letter sent by the pope to all Roman Catholic bishops throughout the world

adjective

1. (of letters) intended for general or wide circulation

encyclical

1. A letter from the pope to the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church , in which he lays down policy on religious, moral, or political issues.

Word History and Origins

Origin of encyclical¹

1610–20; < Late Latin encyclicus (< Greek enkýklios, with -icus -ic for -ios, equivalent to en- en- ² + kýkl ( os ) circle, cycle + -ios adj. suffix) + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of encyclical¹

C17: from Late Latin encyclicus, from Greek enkuklios general, from kuklos circle

Example Sentences

Pope Francis is the first pontiff to make climate change central to his papacy, and wrote a 2015 encyclical that relied on scientific facts about global warming to deliver a moral call to preserve the planet for future generations.

From Los Angeles Times

Another session used a papal encyclical to “highlight the tension and possibility inherent in Christians in political vocations.”

From Salon

Last month, in a prelude to what he will likely say in Dubai, the Argentine Jesuit issued an urgent update to his landmark 2015 encyclical on the environment.

From Seattle Times

There, he re-mixed electronic dance beats with words from Pope Francis’ encyclical about protecting the environment.

From Seattle Times

Her book will focus on the Pope's original 2015 encyclical, called "Laudato Si'," and the recent update.

From Scientific American