An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Roman Church, a term any bishop could use for a letter he circulated. The word derives from the Late Latin encyclios, itself from the Greek enkyklios, meaning circular or all-round. Today the term is used chiefly for papal encyclicals, letters in which the Catholic Church sets out its position on a given topic, though the word is also used among Anglicans and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Facts
Notable Example Defining TraitCircular letter sent to all the churches of an area 1 Sources
1. Encyclical - Wikipedia
Catholic usage
Pope Benedict XIV wrote a letter titled Ubi primum, which is generally regarded as the first encyclical
Intro, sentence 1
a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area
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