Where Does the Church Say?

The Church: Christ in the World Today

Type of Document Author Audience What’s in It? / Examples

Sacred Scriptures various writers inspired all people the Word of God in the words by the Holy Spirit of humans

Dogmatic Constitution the Pope and all the people of God a solemn, formal decree that Ecumenical Council expresses the dogma or doctrinal fathers understanding of the Church in a particular era (example: Dogmatic (example: Vatican Constitution on the Church Council II) [Lumen Gentium, 1964] from Vatican Council II)

Apostolic Constitution the Pope in his usually all the faithful, solemn, formal document on matters own name but see greeting for of highest consequence concerning specific group doctrine or disciplinary matters that being addressed are published as either universal or particular law of the Church (example: Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Encyclical (encyclica the Pope in his usually addressed to a pastoral letter that attempts to epistola: literally own name the bishops, clergy, refine our understanding of some “circular letter”) and faithful of the doctrine or part of the human entire Church, but also condition through the Pope’s ordinary to “all people of teaching office (example Caritas in good will” Veritate, by Pope Benedict XVI)

Apostolic Letter the Pope in his own addressed to a formal papal teaching document, name or a Vatican particular audience not used for dogmatic definitions of congregation in greeting doctrine but to give counsel to the Church on points of doctrine that require deeper explanation in the light of particular circumstances or situations in various parts of the world (example: Rosarium Virginis Mariae, by Pope John Paul II)

Apostolic Exhortation the Pope in his addressed to bishops, a reflection on a particular topic that own name clergy, and all the does not contain dogmatic definitions faithful of the entire or policy directives; not a legislative Catholic Church document (example: Familiaris Consortio, by Pope John Paul II)

Motu Proprio (literally the Pope in his own addressed to bishops, a legislative document or decree “by one’s own name clergy, and all the issued by the Pope on his own initiative”) faithful of the entire initiative, not in response to a request Catholic Church (example: “Summorum Pontificum,” by Pope Benedict XVI)

Declaration and Decree specific Vatican addressed to specific a statement involving Church law, congregations or group in greeting of precepts or judicial decisions on a specific bishop groups the document specific matter; an ordinance given by one having the power of jurisdiction (worldwide or local diocese) (example: On the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church [Dominus Iesus] from Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith)

Instruction specific Vatican addressed to specific explains or amplifies a document that congregations group in greeting of has legislative force, such as the document apostolic constitutions, and states how its precepts are to be applied (example: General Instruction on the Roman Missal)

Pastoral Letter national bishops’ the faithful within the an explanation of how Church conferences or local country or the local teaching applies to or is to be put into bishop diocese effect within a given country or diocese (example: Economic Justice for All, by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)