Encyclicals

Centesimus annus

Ioannes Paulus PP. II
Centesimus annus
To His Venerable Brothers
in the Episcopate
the Priests and Deacons
Families of Men and Women religious
all the Christian Faithful
and to all men and women
of good will
on the hundredth anniversary of
Rerum Novarum
1991.05.01

Blessing

Venerable Brothers,
Beloved Sons and Daughters,
Health and the Apostolic Blessing!

INTRODUCTION

1. The Centenary of the promulgation of the Encyclical which begins with the words "Rerum novarum",¹ by my predecessor of venerable memory Pope Leo XIII, is an occasion of great importance for the present history of the Church and for my own Pontificate. It is an Encyclical that has the distinction of having been commemorated by solemn Papal documents from its fortieth anniversary to its ninetieth. It may be said that its path through history has been marked by other documents which paid tribute to it and applied it to the circumstances of the day.²

Redemptoris missio

Ioannes Paulus PP. II
Redemptoris missio
On the permanent validity of the Church's missionary mandate
1990.12.07

Blessing

Venerable Brothers, Beloved Sons and Daughters,
Health and the Apostolic Blessing!

INTRODUCTION

1. The mission of Christ the Redeemer, which is entrusted to the Church, is still very far from completion. As the second millennium after Christ's coming draws to an end, an overall view of the human race shows that this mission is still only beginning and that we must commit ourselves wholeheartedly to its service. It is the Spirit who impels us to proclaim the great works of God: "For if I preach the Gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!" (1 Cor 9: 16)

Sollicitudo rei socialis

Ioannes Paulus PP. II
Sollicitudo rei socialis

To the Bishops, Priests
Religious Families, sons and daughters of the Church
and all people of good will
for the twentieth anniversary of
"Populorum Progressio"
1987.12.30

Blessing

Venerable Brothers and dear Sons and Daughters,
Health and the Apostolic Blessing!

I. INTRODUCTION

1. The social concern of the Church, directed towards an authentic development of man and society which would respect and promote all the dimensions of the human person, has always expressed itself in the most varied ways. In recent years, one of the special means of intervention has been the Magisterium of the Roman Pontiffs which, beginning with the Encyclical Rerum Novarum of Leo XIII as a point of reference,¹ has frequently dealt with the question and has sometimes made the dates of publication of the various social documents coincide with the anniversaries of that first document.²

Redemptoris Mater

Ioannes Paulus PP. II
Redemptoris Mater

On the Blessed Virgin Mary
in the life of the Pilgrim Church
1987.03.25

Blessing

Venerable Brothers and dear Sons and Daughters,
Health and the Apostolic Blessing.

INTRODUCTION

1. The Mother of the Redeemer has a precise place in the plan of salvation, for "when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'" (Gal. 4:4-6)

Dominum et vivificantem

Ioannes Paulus PP. II
Dominum et vivificantem
On the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church
and the World
1986.05.18

INTRODUCTION

Venerable Brothers, Beloved Sons and Daughters,
Health and the Apostolic Blessing!

1. The Church professes her faith in the Holy Spirit as "the Lord, the giver of life." She professes this in the Creed which is called Nicene- Constantinopolitan from the name of the two Councils-of Nicaea (A.D. 325) and Constantinople (A.D. 381)-at which it was formulated or promulgated. It also contains the statement that the Holy Spirit "has spoken through the Prophets."

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