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Apostolic exhortation

Magisterial document written by the pope

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Anapostolic exhortation is a magisterial document written by the pope. Some experts regard it as third in importance among papal documents, after apostolic constitutions and encyclicals.^[1] Exhortations generally encourage a particular virtue or activity. Apostolic exhortations are frequently issued following a Synod of Bishops, in which case they are known as post-synodal apostolic exhortations. They do not define Church doctrine and are not considered legislative.^[2]

Examples of apostolic exhortations[edit]

Pope Pius XII[edit]

• Menti nostrae (The sanctity of priestly life, 1950)

Pope Paul VI[edit]

• Evangelii nuntiandi (Evangelization in the Modern World, 1975)

Pope John Paul II[edit]

• Catechesi tradendae (Catechesis in Our Time, 1979)
• Familiaris consortio (The Christian Family in the Modern World, 1981)
• Christifideles laici (Christ's Faithful People, 1988)
• Ecclesia in America (The Church in America, 1999)
• Ecclesia in Asia (The Church in Asia, 1999)
• Ecclesia in Europa (The Church in Europe, 2003)
• Pastores gregis (For the Hope of the World, 2003)

Pope Benedict XVI[edit]

• Africae munus (Africa's Commitment, 2011)^[3]
• Sacramentum caritatis (The Sacrament of Love, 2007)
• Verbum Domini (The Word of the Lord, 2010)

Pope Francis[edit]

• Amoris laetitia (The Joy of Love, 2016)
• Gaudete et exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad, 2018)
• Christus vivit (Christ is Alive, 2019)^[4][5]
• Evangelii gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel, 2013)
• Querida Amazonia (Beloved Amazon, 2020), a post-synodal exhortation on the Amazon Region^[6]
• Laudate Deum (Praise God, 2023)^[7]

References[edit]