papal document

Roman Catholicism

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June 11, 2026

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In Roman Catholicism, a papal document is an official letter or decree issued by the pope. These documents, historically known as papal bulls, were traditionally sealed with lead (bulla) and bore the images of Saints Peter and Paul. By the 13th century, the term "papal bull" was reserved for the most significant pronouncements, such as canonizations or major dogmatic declarations.12

Other important papal documents include encyclicals, which are official writings from the pope to bishops, often addressing social, moral, or doctrinal issues. Famous examples include Rerum novarum on economic justice and Laudato si' on environmental concerns. The doctrine of papal infallibility, defined in 1870, states that the pope cannot err when teaching definitively on matters of faith or morals. The pope's role as head of the Holy See involves making decisions on faith and morality for Catholics worldwide.3456

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diplomatics
The papal chancery
Knowledge about early papal documents is scant because no originals survive from before the 9th century, and extant copies of earlier documents are often much abridged. But it is clear that the popes at first imitated the form of the letters of the Roman emperors. The papal protocol…
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Knowledge about early papal documents is scant because no originals survive from before the 9th century, and extant copies of earlier documents are often much abridged. But it is clear that the popes at first imitated the form of the letters of the Roman emperors. The papal protocol…
Read More