Apostolic exhortation

Magisterial document written by the pope

An apostolic 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

Pope Pius XII

Menti nostrae (The sanctity of priestly life, 1950)

Pope Paul VI

Evangelii nuntiandi (Evangelization in the Modern World, 1975)

Pope John Paul II

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

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

Pope Francis

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), Post-synodal exhortation on the Amazon Region^[6]
Laudate Deum (Praise God, 2023)^[7]

References

^ San Martín, Inés (6 April 2018). "A new 'apostolic exhortation' is coming. What is that, anyway?". cruxnow.com. Archived from the original on 2020-01-27. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
^ Song, Connie. "LibGuides: Catholicism - General Resources: Papal documents". library.athenaeum.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
^ "Africae Munus: Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace (19 November 2011) | BENEDICT XVI". Vatican.va. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
^ "Loreto: Pope signs Apostolic Exhortation to young people - Vatican News". 25 March 2019.
^ "Visit of the Holy Father Francis to Loreto".
^ "Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of the Holy Father Francis, "Querida Amazonia"".
^ Pope Francis (2023-10-04). "Laudate Deum". vatican.va. Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Retrieved 4 October 2023.