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Question

Dear Father Angelo,

I have a question that is a bit more “social” and less “spiritual”, but still concerning everything that surrounds us.

I was told that the Papal Encyclicals establish a Magisterium, unlike the apostolic exhortations, therefore what is written in the encyclicals is for me a “rule” to follow, it is part of the moral teachings of the Church.

My question is: over the centuries, has it ever happened that some of the teachings of the magisterium of the Church, therefore belonging to the Magisterium proper and not just to the tradition, have been “undone” by a new action of the Magisterium? For example, another encyclical or perhaps an ecumenical council or something else. If so, what justification was given?

And if I may be allowed, in which universe of theology does the answer lie? (Moral Theology, Dogmatic Theology, Canon Law, etc.)

Thank you very much for your answers, which are always very accurate, and I remember you in my prayers.

Warm wishes,

Manuele

Answer from the priest

Dear Manuele,

1. apostolic exhortations also establish a magisterium, even if that of the encyclicals is stronger.

2. An encyclical in general expounds, develops, and establishes a certain point of the doctrine of the Church.

It has essentially a teaching purpose.

3. Apostolic exhortations, on the other hand, have a more practical purpose.

They often reformulate the doctrine of the Church, but with the intention of addressing in a concrete way the life of the Christian communities or even of the single faithful.

4. It has never happened that a document of the magisterium of the Church has suppressed a previous document on the same subject.

It would be very strange if that same Spirit of truth (Jn 14:17) who urges to teach the truths of faith to the Christian people contradicted itself.

For this reason, there is a well-known axiom in theology: quod semel verum, semper verum (“what has once been held to be true, remains true forever”).

5. On the other hand, there may be decrees of the Church which abrogate the previous norms.

But here we are not on the level of doctrinal principles, but of the discipline of the Church.

Now, the Church is the arbiter of her discipline. She can change it at will to make it more suitable to the service of the Christian people.

On the other hand, she cannot change the doctrine, because it is not hers. She is the custodian, minister, and ambassador of it.

6. It must also be said that the meaning of an encyclical can vary over time.

The word encyclical literally means circular letter.

Now, while today the encyclical is given a strong doctrinal weight, in the past this same term was used both for the doctrinal teaching of the Church and also for simple recommendations made to the Christian people.

For example, Leo XIII wrote a lot of encyclicals. Some have a very strong doctrinal weight. Just think of Rerum novarum (15.5.1891), which is the magna charta of the social doctrine of the Church.

At the same time, he also wrote no less than 13 encyclicals on the Rosary, some of them being very few pages long. Those encyclicals are in general exhortations to pray the Rosary for the various needs of the Church.

7. The question you asked me belongs to a specific sector of theology, which is that of ecclesiology.

I wish you well, I remember you in prayer, and I bless you.

Father Angelo