What Was the First Papal Encyclical
While Popes Have Been Writing Letters to the Faithful Since the Early Days of the Church, the First Pope to Issue an Encyclical (And Call It Such) Was Benedict...
While popes have been writing letters to the faithful since the early days of the church, the first pope to issue an encyclical (and call it such) was Benedict XIV, who released Ubi Primum (“On the Duty of Bishops”) in 1740.
What is the first encyclical written by the pope?
In 1740, Pope Benedict XIV wrote a letter titled Ubi primum, which is generally regarded as the first encyclical. The term is now used almost exclusively for a kind of letter sent out by the Pope.
When was the first papal encyclical written?
The first encyclical was written in 1740 by Pope Benedict XIV. Since then, nearly 300 have been written. Popes have published encyclicals on issues of general concern, like peace or human rights, after Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical on labor and social justice in 1897.
David Miller brings 15 years of experience in global economics, personal finance strategy, and market dynamics. He specializes in turning complex economic trends into actionable insights for everyday readers.
