1. A letter or document issued by the Pope and addressed to the bishops and faithful of the Roman Catholic Church on matters of doctrine or discipline.
Usage: Most common sense; formal religious context

1. Intended for wide circulation; circular in distribution.
Usage: Formal; less common than the noun sense

Examples

• Pope Francis issued an encyclical on environmental protection and climate change.
• The encyclical addressed the Church's position on social justice and human dignity.
• Bishops around the world received the papal encyclical and shared its message with their congregations.
• The 1968 encyclical sparked considerable debate within the Catholic community.
• An encyclical letter was distributed to all parishes in the diocese.