Church Documents Treasury — Conciliar & Papal Magisterium

COUNCIL DECREE1965

Ad Gentes (Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church)

Second Vatican Ecumenical Council / Pope Paul VI

The Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church establishes that the Church is missionary by her very nature, sent by Christ to preach the Gospel to all nations, plant local churches, foster inculturation, and transform societies through divine truth and charity.

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APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION1979

Catechesi Tradendae (On Catechesis in Our Time)

Pope John Paul II

Apostolic Exhortation on Catholic catechesis, affirming Christ as the center of all Christian instruction, outlining sound pedagogical methods, family catechesis, and doctrinal fidelity in parish religious education.

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CATECHISM1992

Catechismus Catholicae Ecclesiae (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Pope John Paul II

Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum promulgated by Pope John Paul II for the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, presenting the full deposit of Catholic faith and morals as an organic synthesis.

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COUNCIL CONSTITUTION1965

Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation)

Second Vatican Ecumenical Council / Pope Paul VI

The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation sets forth the Catholic Church’s authoritative teaching on how God reveals Himself to humanity, the organic unity between Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, divine inspiration, and the Magisterium’s role as servant of the Word.

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DECLARATION1965

Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Religious Freedom)

Second Vatican Ecumenical Council / Pope Paul VI

The Declaration on Religious Freedom affirms that the human person has a right to religious freedom, grounded in human dignity created by God, meaning all men are to be immune from coercion by individuals, social groups, or civil power in matters of faith.

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ENCYCLICAL2003

Ecclesia de Eucharistia (On the Eucharist)

Pope John Paul II

Encyclical letter on the Holy Eucharist in its relationship to the Church, reaffirming Eucharistic faith, transubstantiation, the sacrificial nature of the Mass, liturgical reverence, and Mary as Woman of the Eucharist.

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APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION2013

Evangelii Gaudium (On the Proclamation of the Gospel)

Pope Francis

Apostolic Exhortation calling the Church to a new chapter of missionary joy, pastoral conversion, parish renewal, effective homiletics, social inclusion of the poor, and evangelizing passion.

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APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION1975

Evangelii Nuntiandi (On Evangelization in the Modern World)

Pope Paul VI

Apostolic Exhortation on evangelization in the modern world, declaring that the Church exists in order to evangelize, emphasizing witness of life, authentic proclamation, cultural transformation, and Christian unity.

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ENCYCLICAL1998

Fides et Ratio (On Faith and Reason)

Pope John Paul II

Encyclical letter on the harmony between faith and reason as two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth, warning against skepticism, scientism, and relativism while defending philosophical capacity for objective truth.

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COUNCIL CONSTITUTION1965

Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World)

Second Vatican Ecumenical Council / Pope Paul VI

The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World examines human dignity, culture, economic life, marriage, family, social justice, and peace, declaring that Christ fully reveals man to himself and makes his supreme calling clear.

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ENCYCLICAL2015

Laudato Si' (On Care for Our Common Home)

Pope Francis

Encyclical letter on integral ecology, environmental stewardship, human dignity, and care for creation, linking environmental degradation with social injustice, technocratic domination, and moral decline.

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COUNCIL CONSTITUTION1964

Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church)

Second Vatican Ecumenical Council / Pope Paul VI

The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church provides the Catholic Church’s definitive ecclesiological self-understanding as the Mystery of Christ, the People of God, the universal call to holiness, and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the mystery of Christ and the Church.

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DECLARATION1965

Nostra Aetate (Declaration on Relation to Non-Christian Religions)

Second Vatican Ecumenical Council / Pope Paul VI

The Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions highlights common human brotherhood, rejects anti-Semitism, recognizes truth in world religions, and proclaims Christ as the way, truth, and life.

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APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION2020

Patris Corde (With a Father’s Heart)

Pope Francis

Apostolic Letter marking the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, highlighting Joseph as a beloved, tender, obedient, accepting, creatively courageous, working father in the shadow.

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ENCYCLICAL1987

Redemptoris Mater (Mother of the Redeemer)

Pope John Paul II

Encyclical letter on the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of the pilgrim Church, meditating on Mary’s faith journey, her maternal intercession, her presence in the mystery of Christ, and Marian spirituality.

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ENCYCLICAL1891

Rerum Novarum (On Capital and Labor)

Pope Leo XIII

Foundational encyclical letter of modern Catholic Social Teaching, addressing the condition of the working classes, defending worker dignity, fair living wages, and private property while condemning both unregulated capitalism and state socialism.

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COUNCIL CONSTITUTION1963

Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy)

Second Vatican Ecumenical Council / Pope Paul VI

The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy sets forth authentic Catholic doctrine and principles for liturgical renewal, emphasizing active participation, the centrality of the Paschal mystery, the sacred dignity of worship, and Gregorian chant.

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ENCYCLICAL2007

Spe Salvi (On Christian Hope)

Pope Benedict XVI

Encyclical letter on Christian hope, exploring eternal life, redemption, judgment, purgatory, and prayer as a school of hope, contrasting Christian hope with modern secular ideologies and utopian promises.

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COUNCIL DECREE1964

Unitatis Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism)

Second Vatican Ecumenical Council / Pope Paul VI

The Decree on Ecumenism sets forth Catholic principles for restoring full visible unity among all Christians, emphasizing spiritual ecumenism, prayer, theological dialogue, and mutual conversion of heart.

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Church Documents & Magisterium

Ad Gentes (Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church)

Catechesi Tradendae (On Catechesis in Our Time)

Catechismus Catholicae Ecclesiae (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation)

Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Religious Freedom)

Ecclesia de Eucharistia (On the Eucharist)

Evangelii Gaudium (On the Proclamation of the Gospel)

Evangelii Nuntiandi (On Evangelization in the Modern World)

Fides et Ratio (On Faith and Reason)

Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World)

Laudato Si' (On Care for Our Common Home)

Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church)

Nostra Aetate (Declaration on Relation to Non-Christian Religions)

Patris Corde (With a Father’s Heart)

Redemptoris Mater (Mother of the Redeemer)

Rerum Novarum (On Capital and Labor)

Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy)

Spe Salvi (On Christian Hope)

Unitatis Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism)