1. Plural of encyclical; official letters or documents issued by the Pope to the Catholic Church on matters of doctrine, morality, or discipline.
Usage: Formal, religious context; Often capitalized when referring to specific papal documents

Examples

• The Pope's encyclics address important social and moral issues facing the modern world.
• Many encyclics from the 20th century focused on workers' rights and economic justice.
• Scholars study papal encyclics to understand the Church's official positions on various topics.
• The encyclics issued during his papacy emphasized environmental stewardship.
• Catholic universities often include the study of papal encyclics in their theology programs.
• These encyclics have influenced Catholic thought and practice for generations.