Encyclicals

by Brent Kostyniuk

Do you write letters? Real honest to goodness letters with a pen on paper. Few people do now. To a large degree it has become a lost art. Yet letters are a unique form of communication. To receive a letter is to know that the sender has taken the time to organize their thoughts and the trouble to put those thoughts down, word by word, sentence by sentence. Moreover, there is something very special in knowing that the missive has actually been handled by the person who sent it.

While letter writing is becoming increasingly rare, its importance is still very real, particularly in the Church. Undoubtedly the most significant letter writer in history was the Apostle Paul. Of the 27 books which comprise the New Testament, 13 or 14 (an East-West difference) are traditionally attributed to St. Paul. He travelled extensively through the Roman world, establishing churches. Because he could not personally revisit all those church communities, he sent letters to instruct, encourage, and even chastise them. The letters were very personal as revealed in Galatians 6:11. “See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!” Many see this as St. Paul having to use a large script because of failing eyesight. Readers would understand, therefore, that it was a genuine message from St. Paul. He is ensuring them that he has taken the time and effort to guide them himself.

Biblical scholars also point out the “large letters” may also place an emphasis on the seriousness of the Apostle’s instructions and exhortations. They might also have been his way of showing his love for the Galatians. We often do the same thing today in writing birthday or greeting cards.

The tradition of giving theological instruction through personal letter writing continued through the early Church and continues to this day in the form of papal encyclicals (Greek enkyklios, meaning circular or general). They are official documents of the Church intended to guide in matters of faith and morals and Church discipline. It is one of the most significant and authoritative instruments of communication used by the Bishop of Rome and is intended that these instructions be universally observed. Historically, encyclicals were aimed at the bishops and clergy. However, Pope Saint John XXIII changed this in 1963 with Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) which was addressed not only to the clergy but to “all men of good will.” Incidentally, encyclicals are officially named by their incipit, the first few words of the text which is traditional written in Latin.

Encyclicals may also serve as a general guide in some matter which the pope views as being particularly important. Such was the case in 1894 when Pope Leo XIII promulgated Orientalium dignitas (On the Churches of the East): “The Churches of the East are worthy of the glory and reverence that they hold throughout the whole of Christendom in virtue of those extremely ancient, singular memorials that they have bequeathed to us.”

Encyclicals may also commemorate a significant moment in the life of the Church. In 1985, Saint Pope John Paul II addressed the Christianization of the Slavic people in Slavorum Apostoli which commemorated the evangelical work of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

This brings us to the encyclical Dilexi te (I have loved you) issued by Pope Leo XIV on October 9, 2025. A pope’s first encyclical is generally regarded as setting the tone for his pontificate. In Pope Leo’s case, it is clear he sees love of Christ must be mirrored with acts of mercy: love for the poor, caring for the sick, and almsgiving. Along with these, he sees social reform as essential: defending women who experience violence and exclusion, assisting migrants, working for equality, and making education more widely available.

Regarding the poor, the Pontiff calls for a “change in mentality.” We are to strive to free ourselves from “the illusion of happiness derived from a comfortable life that pushes many people towards a vision of life centered on the accumulation of wealth and social success at all costs, even at the expense of others and by taking advantage of unjust social ideals and political-economic systems that favour the strongest” (Dilexi te, 11).

Moreover, our works must not be seen in a sort of condescending manner, but rather in keeping with the knowledge that God loves us all and that poverty is not simply a societal problem. The poor are part of our family; they are one of us: “Serving the poor is not a gesture to be made ‘from above’, but an encounter between equals, where Christ is revealed and adored… Therefore, when the Church bends down to care for the poor, she assumes her highest posture”(Dilexi te, 79).

Towards the end of the encyclical, Pope Leo expresses his conviction concisely. “The poor are at the heart of the Church” (Dilexi te, 111).

As with any letter, encyclicals are personal communications to which thought and effort have been placed. In a sense, they are messages from one friend to another, seeking to share wisdom and knowledge. Although they might be seen as deep theological tracts, they are rather well-intended and carefully thought out messages well worth reading.

Credit: Top Photo by James Coleman on Unsplash