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  • Curia Abbreviations
    CB 
    CC 
    CCE 
    CCS 
    CDF 
    CDWDS 
    CICLSAL 
    CLA 
    COC 
    CRSI 
    CS 
    ICC
    ITC 
    PBC 
    PCAHCW 
    PCC 
    PCCHC 
    PCCU 
    PCED 
    PCF 
    PCILT 
    PCIRD 
    PCJP 
    PCL 
    PCPCMIP 
    PCPCU 
    PCRRJ 
    PCSC 
    SecState 
    Congregation for Bishops
    Congregation for the Clergy
    Congregation for Catholic Education
    Congregation of the Causes of Saints
    Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
    Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments
    Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (formerly CRSI)
    Commission for Latin America (under the CB)
    Congregation for the Oriental Churches
    Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes (renamed CICLSAL)
    Congregation for the Causes of Saints
    International Council for Catechesis (under the CC)
    International Theological Commission (under the CDF)
    Pontifical Biblical Commission (under the CDF)
    Pontifical Council for the Apostolate of Health Care Workers
    Pontifical Council for Culture
    Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church
    Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” for Human and Christian Development
    Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei"
    Pontifical Council for the Family
    Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts
    Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue
    Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
    Pontifical Council for the Laity
    Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People
    Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity 
    Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews (under the PCPCU)
    Pontifical Council for Social Communications
    The Secretariat of State


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    A Concilio                                    Apostolic Letter for the 1600th Anniversary of the First Council of Constantinople
         Constantinopolitano I                 and the 1550th Anniversary of the Council of Ephesus
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  25 Mar 1981
    Ad Gentes                                    Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church
                                                                             Vatican II,  7 Dec 1965
    Ad Petri Cathedram                    Encyclical on Truth, Unity and Peace
                                                                             Pope John XXIII,  29 Jun 1959
    Ad Tuendam Fidem                    Motu Proprio Amending the Code of Canon Law Regarding Magisterial Truths
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  18 May 1998
    Address to Chaldean Bishops  Address to the Synod of Chaldean Catholic Bishops
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  12 Jun 2000
    Adult Catechesis                         Adult Catechesis in the Christian Community
                                                                             ICC, Easter 1990
    Aeterna Dei Sapientia                 Encyclical on the See of Peter as the Center of Christian Unity
                                                                             Pope John XXIII,  11 Nov 1961
    Amantissima Providentia           Apostolic Letter on the Sixth Centenary of the Death of Saint Catherine of Siena
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  29 Apr 1980   [Italian text]
    Anointing of the Sick                 Apostolic Constitution on the Sacrament of Annointing of the Sick
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  30 Nov 1972
    Apostolica Testificatio               Apostolic Exhortation on Renewal of the Religious Life According to Vatican II
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  29 Jun 1971
    Apostolicam Actuositatem        Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity
                                                                             Vatican II,  18 Nov 1965
    Apostolos Suos                           Motu Proprio on the Theological and Juridical Nature of Episcopal Conferences
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  21 May 1998
    Augustinum Hipponensem       Apostolic Letter on the 16th Centenary of the Conversion of Saint Augustine,
                                                                    Bishop and Doctor of the Church
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  28 Aug 1986

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    Catechesi Tradendae                  Apostolic Exhortation on Catechesis in Our Time
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  16 Oct 1979
    Catechetical Directory                General Catechetical Directory
                                                                             CC, 11 Apr 1971
    Causas Matrimoniales                Apostolic Letter Regulating Matrimonial Tribunals and Annullment Processes
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  28 Mar 1971    [Italian]
    Centesimus Annus                     Encyclical on the Church’s Social Teaching on the Centenary of Rerum Novarum
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  1 May 1991
    Chiese Sorelle                              Note on the Expression “Sister Churches”
                                                                             CDF, 30 Jun 2000
    Christi Matri                                Encyclical on Prayers for Peace in the Month of October
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  15 Sep 1966
    On Christian Freedom                 Instruction on Christian Freedom and Liberation
                                                                             CDF, 22 Mar 1986
    Christifideles Laici                       Apostolic Exhortation on the Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  30 Dec 1988
    Christus Dominus                       Decree Concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church
                                                                             Vatican II,  28 Oct 1965
    Communion and Divorce           The Reception of Holy Communion by the Divorced and Remarried Members of the Faithful
                                                                             CDF, 14 Sept 1994
    Communionis Notio                    On Some Aspects of the Church Understood as Communion
                                                                             CDF, 28 May 1992
    Communiqué with the                 Joint Communiqué with the Armenian Apostolic Church
         Armenian Church                                    Pope John Paul II & Catholicos Karekin II,  9 Nov 2000
     
    Contemplative Dimension          Guidelines on the Contemplative Dimension of Religious Life
                                                                             CRSI, 12 Aug 1980
    Credo of the People of God        Profession of Faith on the 19th Centenary of the Martyrdom of Peter and Paul
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  30 Jun 1968

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    Declaration with the                    Comon Declaration of the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church
         Armenian Church                                   Pope John Paul II & Catholicos Karekin I,  13 Dec 1996

    Declaration with the Assyrian   Common Christological Declaration Between Catholic Church and
         Church of the East                         the Assyrian Church of the East
                                                                              Pope John Paul II & Catholicos Mar Dinkha IV,  11 Nov 1994
    Declaration with the                    Common Declaration of the Catholic Church and the Ecumenical
         Ecumenical Patriarch                    Patriarchate of Constantinople
                                                                             Pope John Paul II & Patriarch Bartholomew I,  29 Jun 1995
    Dei Verbum                                  Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation
                                                                             Vatican II,  18 Nov 1965
    Dies Domini                                 Apostolic Letter on Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  31 May 1998
    Dignitatis Humanae                    Declaration on Religious Freedom
                                                                             Vatican II,  7 Dec 1965
    Dilecti Amici                                Apostolic Letter to the Youth of the World for the International Youth Year
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  31 Mar 1985
    Directory for Catechesis             General Directory for Catechesis
                                                                             CC, 15 Aug 1997
    Dives in Misericordia                 Encyclical on the Mercy of God
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  30 Nov 1980
    Divini Amoris Scientia                Apostolic Letter on Saint Therese of Lisieux
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  19 Oct 1997
    Divinus Perfectionis Magister   Apostolic Constitution on the Process of Canonization of Saints
                                                                             Pope John Paul II, 25 Jan 1983    [Italian text]
                                                               A Note on the Canonization Process, Holy See Press Office, 12 Sep 1997
    Dolentium Hominum                   Motu Proprio Establishing the Pontifical Commision for the Apostolate
                                                                    of Health Care Workers
                                                                             Pope John Paul II, 11 Feb 1985
    Dominicae Cenae                         Letter to Bishops on the Mystery and Worship of the Eucharist
                                                                             Pope John Paul II, 24 Feb 1980
    Dominum et Vivificantem           Encyclical on the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church and the World
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  18 May 1986
    Dominus Iesus                            Declaration on the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church
                                                                             CDF, 6 Aug 2000
    Duodecim Saeculum                   Apostolic Letter on on the Veneration of Sacred Images on the Occasion
                                                                   of the 1200th Anniversary of the Second Council of Nicaea.
                                                                             Pope John Paul II, 4 Dec 1987


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    Ecclesia Dei                                  Motu Proprio Establishing the Pontifical Commision "Ecclesia Dei" in Response
                                                                   to the Schism of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  2 Jul 1988
    Ecclesia in Africa                        Apostolic Exhortation on the Church in Africa
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  14 Sep 1995
    Ecclesia in America                     Apostolic Exhortation to the Church in America
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  22 Jan 1999
    Ecclesia in Asia                           Apostolic Exhortation to the Church in Asia
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  6 Nov 1999
    Ecclesia in Urbe                          Apostolic Constitution on the Governing of the Vicariate of Rome
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  1 Jan 1998   [Latin text]
    Ecclesiam Suam                           Encyclical on the Church
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  6 Aug 1964
    Egregiae Virtutis                          Apostolic Letter Proclaining Saints Cyril and Methodius Co-Patrons of Europe
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  31 Dec 1980   [Italian text]
    The End of World War II           Message on the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  16 May 1995
    Euntes In Mundum                     Apostolic Letter on the Millennium of the Baptism of Kievan Rus'
         Universum                                                 Pope John Paul II,  25 Jan 1988    [Italian text]

    Europae Orientalis                      Motu Proprio Establishing the Pontifical Commission for the Church in Eastern
                                                                    Europe, Replacing the Pontifical Commission for Russia
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  15 Jan 1993   [Italian text]
    On Euthanasia                             Declaration on Euthanasia
                                                                             CDF, 5 May 1980
    Evangelii Nuntiandi                    Apostolic Exhortation on Evangelization in Our Time
                                                                            Pope Paul VI,  8 Dec 1975
    Evangelium Vitae                        Encyclical on the Value and Inviolability of Human Life
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  25 Mar 1995
    Ex Corde Ecclesiae                      Apostolic Constitution on Catholic Universities
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  15 Aug 1990


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    Familia A Deo Instituta              Motu Proprio Establishing the Pontifical Council for the Family
                                                                             Pope John Paul II, 9 May 1981    [Italian text]
    Familiaris Consortio                    Apostolic Exhortation on the Role of the Christian Family
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  22 Nov 1981
    Fidei Depositum                          Apostolic Constitution on the Publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  11 Oct 1992
    Fides et Ratio                               Encyclical on the Relationship Between Faith and Reason
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  14 Sept 1998
    Formation of Religious               Direction on Formation in Religious Institutes
                                                                             CICLSAL, 2 Feb 1990
    Fraternal Life                                Instruction on Fraternal Life in Community
                                                                             CICLSAL, 21 Feb 1994

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    Gaudete in Domino                     Apostolic Exhortation on Christian Joy
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  9 May 1975
    Gaudium et Spes                          Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World
                                                                             Vatican II,  7 Dec 1965
    On General Absolution              Pastoral Norms Concerning the Administration of General Sacramental Absolution
                                                                              CDF, 16 Jun 1972
    Grata Recordatio                         Encyclical on the Rosary
                                                                             Pope John XXIII,  26 Sept 1959
    Gravissimum Educationis          Declaration on Christian Education
                                                                             Vatican II,  28 Oct 1965
    Guide for Catechists                   Guide for Catechists Dependent on the Cong. for the Evang. of Peoples
                                                                             CEP, 3 Dec 1993

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    The Human Genome                   On the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights
                                                                             Sec. State, 24 May 1998
    Humanae Vitae                            Encyclical on the Regulation of Birth
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  25 Jul 1968

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    Incarnationis Mysterium            Bull of Indiction of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  29 Nov 1998
    Inde a Pontificatus                      Motu Proprio Combining the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Pontifical
                                                                    Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  25 Mar 1993
    Indulgientiarum Doctrina           Apostolic Constitution on the History and Doctrine of Indulgences
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  1 Jan 1967
    Ingravescentem Aetatem           Motu Proprio Regulating the Age Limit for the College of Cardinals
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  21 Nov 1970
    Inter-Institute Formation            Instruction on Inter-Instutute Collaboration for Formation
                                                                             CICLSAL, 8 Dec 1998
    Inter Mirifica                                Decree on the Media of Social Communications
                                                                             Vatican II,  4 Dec 1963
    Inter Munera Academiarum       Apostolic Letter on the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas and the
                                                                    Pontifical Academy of Theology
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  28 Jan 1999

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    Labor Office of the Holy See     Motu Proprio Establishing the Labor Office of the Holy See
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  30 Sept 1994    [Italian text]
    Laborem Exercens                       Encyclical on Human Work on the 90th Anniversary of Rerum Novarum
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  14 Sep 1981
    Laetamur Magnopere                 Apostolic Letter Promulgating the Latin Typical Edition of the
                                                                    Catechism of the Catholic Church
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  15 Aug 1997
    Les Grands Mystères                 Apostolic Letter on the Problem in Lebanon
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  1 May 1984    [Italian text]
    Letter on Abortion                      Letter to All the World's Bishops on Combatting Abortion and Euthanasia
         and Euthanasia                                       Pope John Paul II,  19 May 1991

    Letter to the Armenian               May We Rediscover Our Full Communnion: Letter to Karekin I, Catholicos
         Patriarch                                         and Supreme Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  29 Jun 1999
    Letter to Artists                           Letter to Artists on Easter Sunday
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  4 Apr 1999
    Letter to Children                        Letter to Children in the Year of the Family
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  13 Dec 1994
    Letter to the Elderly                    Letter for the UN Year of the Elderly
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  1 Oct 1999
    Letter to Families                         Letter for the UN Year of the Family
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  2 Feb 1994
    Letter on the Holy City               The Holy City is the Mother of All Churches: Letter to Patriarch Michael Sabbah
                                                                   of the Patriarchal Diocese of Jerusalem for Latins
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  28 Nov 1997
    Letter to Mons. Aufderbeck      Letter to Mons. Hugo Aufderbeck for the VII Centenary of the Church of San Severo
                                                                             Pope John Paul I,  28 Sept 1978  [Latin text]
    Letter to Religious                       Letter to Religious for the Marian Year
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  22 May 1988
    Letter to Women                         Letter for the Fourth World Conference on Women at Beijing
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  29 Jun 1995
    On Liberation Theology             Instruction on Certain Aspects on the Theology of Liberation
                                                                             CDF, 6 Aug 1984
    Lumen Gentium                           Dogmatic Constitution on the Church
                                                                             Vatican II,  21 Nov 1964


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    Magnum Matrimonii                   Apostolic Constitution on the Pontifical Instutute for Marriage and the Family
            Sacramentum                                          Pope John Paul II,  7 Oct 1982   [Italian text]

    Marialis Cultus                            Apostolic Exhortation for the Right Ordering and Development of Devotion
                                                                    to the Blessed Virgin Mary
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  2 Feb 1974
    Mater et Magistra                       Encyclical on Christianity and Social Progress
                                                                             Pope John XXIII,  15 May 1961
    Memory and Reconciliation      Memory and Reconciliation - The Church and the Faults of the Past
                                                                             ITC, Dec 1999
    Mense Maio                                 Encyclical on Prayers for the Preservation of Peace in the Month of May
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  29 Apr 1965
    The Message of Fatima             The Message of Fatima
                                                                             Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, CDF, 26 Jun 2000
    Message on Indulgences           Message to William Cardinal Baum, Supreme Penitentiary,
                                                                   on Teaching About Indulgences
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  1 Apr 2000
    Mulieris Dignitatem                    Apostolic Letter on the Dignity and Vocation of Women
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  15 Aug 1988
    Mysterium Fidei                          Encyclical on the Holy Eucharist
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  3 Sep 1965


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    New Rites for Ordination           Apostolic Constitution on the Revised Rites for Sacred Ordination
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  18 Jun 1968
    Nostra Aetate                              Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions
                                                                             Vatican II,  28 Oct 1965
    Novo Millennio Ineunte            Apostolic Letter at the Close of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  6 Jan 2001

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    Octogesima Adveniens             Apostolic Letter on Social Justice on the Eightieth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  14 May 1971
    On Saint Thomas More              Motu Proprio Proclamation of St. Thomas More as Patron of
                                                                    Statesmen and Politicians
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  31 Oct 2000
    Operosam Diem                           Apostolic Letter on the 16th Centenary of the Death of Saint Ambose
                                                                   of Milan, Doctor of the Church
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  1 Dec 1996    [Latin text]
    Optatam Totius                           Decree on Priestly Training
                                                                            Vatican II,  28 Oct 1965
    Ordinatio Sacerdotalis                Apostolic Letter on Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  22 May 1994
    Orientale Lumen                          Apostolic Letter on the Eastern Churches
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  2 May 1995
    Orientalium Ecclesiarum             Decree on the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite
                                                                             Vatican II,  21 Nov 1964

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    Pacem in Terris                            Encyclical on Establishing Universal Peace
                                                                             Pope John XXIII,  11 Apr 1963
    Paenitemini                                  Apostolic Constitution on Penance
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  17 Feb 1966
    Paenitentiam Agere                    Encyclical on the Need for the Practice of Interior and Exterior Penance
                                                                             Pope John XXIII,  1 Jul 1962
    The Paschal Mystery                 Apostolic Letter on the Celebration of the Paschal Mystery
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  3 Feb 1969   [Portuguese text]
    Pastor Bonus                               Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  28 Jun 1988
    Pastoral Care of Homosexuals   Instruction on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons
                                                                             CDF, 1 Oct 1986
    Pastoral Guide for Priests          Pastoral Guide for Diocesan Priests Dependent on the Cong. for the Evang. of Peoples
                                                                             CEP, June 1989
    Pastorale Munus                         Motu Proprio on the Powers and Privileges Granted to Bishops
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  30 Nov 1963
    Pastores Dabo Vobis                  Apostolic Exhortation on the Formation of Priests
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  25 Mar 1992
    Paterna cum Benevolentia         Apostolic Exhortation for the Yoly Year of 1975,
                                                                             Pope Paul VI,  8 Dec 1974   [Italian text]
    Patres Ecclesiae                          Apostolic Letter on the Sixteenth Centenary of the Death of Saint Basil
                                                                             Pope John Paul II,  2 Jan 1980    [Italian text]
    Patronesses of Europe               Motu Proprio Proclaiming St. Bridget of Sweden, St. Catherine of Siena and
                                                                    St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) Co-Patronesses of Europe