Encyclical

An encyclical is an authoritative letter sent to a group, such as a papal encyclical occasionally sent by a pope to the bishops of the Catholic Church.

A papal encyclical ranks as follows in authority:^[1]

1. apostolic constitution
2. encyclical letter (written for the entire church)
3. encyclical epistle (written for only part of the church)
4. apostolic exhortation
5. apostolic letter
6. letter

References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.secondexodus.com/html/catholicdefinitions/encyclicalletter.htm