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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


On the Church                                                                                 back to top

Lumen Gentium                            Dogmatic Constitution on the Church
                                                                         Vatican II,  21 Nov 1964
Gaudium et Spes                          Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World
                                                                         Vatican II,  7 Dec 1965
Ecclesiam Suam                            Encyclical on the Church
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  6 Aug 1964
Dominus Iesus                            Declaration on the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church
                                                                         CDF, 6 Aug 2000
Chiese Sorelle                              Note on the Expression “Sister Churches”
                                                                         CDF, 30 Jun 2000
Communionis Notio                    On Some Aspects of the Church Understood as Communion
                                                                         CDF, 28 May 1992
Memory and Reconciliation      Memory and Reconciliation - The Church and the Faults of the Past
                                                                         ITC, Dec 1999
Universi Dominici Gregis            Apostolic Constitution on the Vacancy of the Apostolic See
                                                                and the Election of the Roman Pontiff
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  22 Feb 1996
Romano Pontifici Eligendo         Apostolic Constitution on the Vacancy of the Apostolic See
                                                                   and the Election of the Roman Pontiff
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  1 October 1975
Ecclesia in Asia                            Apostolic Exhortation to the Church in Asia
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  6 Nov 1999
Ecclesia in America                      Apostolic Exhortation to the Church in America
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  22 Jan 1999
Ecclesia in Africa                         Apostolic Exhortation on the Church in Africa
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  14 Sep 1995
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
¤  THE ROMAN CURIA                                                                     back to top

Pastor Bonus                               Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  28 Jun 1988
Ecclesia in Urbe                           Apostolic Constitution on the Governing of the Vicariate of Rome
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  1 Jan 1998   [Latin text]
Ingravescentem Aetatem           Motu Proprio Regulating the Age Limit for the College of Cardinals
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  21 Nov 1970
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
Familia A Deo Instituta              Motu Proprio Establishing the Pontifical Council for the Family
                                                                           Pope John Paul II, 9 May 1981     [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]
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
Dolentium Hominum                   Motu Proprio Establishing the Pontifical Commision for the Apostolate
                                                                of Health Care Workers
                                                                         Pope John Paul II, 11 Feb 1985
Vitae Mysterium                          Motu Proprio Establishing the Pontifical Academy for Life
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  11 Feb 1994
Socialium Scientiarum                 Motu Proprio Establishing the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  1 Jan 1994    [Italian text]
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]
Magnum Matrimonii                   Apostolic Constitution on the Pontifical Instutute for Marriage and the Family
        Sacramentum                                         Pope John Paul II,  7 Oct 1982   [Italian text]
Causas Matrimoniales                Apostolic Letter Regulating Matrimonial Tribunals and Annullment Processes
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  28 Mar 1971   [Italian]
¤  THE EASTERN CATHOLIC CHURCHES                               back to top

Orientalium Ecclesiarum             Decree on the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite
                                                                         Vatican II,  21 Nov 1964
Orientale Lumen                          Apostolic Letter on the Eastern Churches
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  2 May 1995
Slavorum Apostoli                      Encyclical for the 11th Centenary of the Evangelizing Work
                                                                of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Apostles to the Slavs
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  2 Jun 1985
Euntes In Mundum                     Apostolic Letter on the Millennium of the Baptism of Kievan Rus'
        Universum                                              Pope John Paul II,  25 Jan 1988   [Italian text]

Sescentesima Anniversaria       Apostolic Letter on the Sixth Centenary of the “Baptism” of Lithuania
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  5 Jun 1987
Unione Romania Roma               Apostolic Letter for the 300th Anniversary of the Union of the Greek-Catholic
                                                                Church of Romania with the Church of Rome
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  20 July 2000
Union of Uzhorod                       Apostolic Letter for the 350 Years of the Union of Uzhorod
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  18 Apr 1996
Union of Brest                             Apostolic Letter for the Fourth Centenary of the Union of Brest
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  12 Nov 1995
Address to Chaldean Bishops  Address to the Synod of Chaldean Catholic Bishops
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  12 Jun 2000
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 the Ordained Ministry                                                        back to top

New Rites for Ordination           Apostolic Constitution on the Revised Rites for Sacred Ordination
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  18 Jun 1968
Stella Maris                                  Motu Proprio on the Maritime Apostolate
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  31 Jan 1997
¤  BISHOPS                                                                                            back to top

Christus Dominus                       Decree Concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church
                                                                         Vatican II,  28 Oct 1965
Pastorale Munus                         Motu Proprio on the Powers and Privileges Granted to Bishops
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  30 Nov 1963
Apostolos Suos                          Motu Proprio on the Theological and Juridical Nature of Episcopal Conferences
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  21 May 1998
Letter on Abortion                      Letter to All the World's Bishops on Combatting Abortion and Euthanasia
     and Euthanasia                                      Pope John Paul II,  19 May 1991
¤  PRIESTS                                                                                            back to top

Presbyterorum Ordinis               Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests
                                                                         Vatican II,  7 Dec 1965
Optatam Totius                           Decree on Priestly Training
                                                                         Vatican II,  28 Oct 1965
Sacerdotalis Caelibatus              Encyclical on the Celibacy of the Priest
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  24 Jun, 1967
Pastores Dabo Vobis                  Apostolic Exhortation on the Formation of Priests
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  25 Mar 1992
Ordinatio Sacerdotalis                Apostolic Letter on Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  22 May 1994
Pastoral Guide for Priests          Pastoral Guide for Diocesan Priests Dependent on the Cong. for the Evang. of Peoples
                                                                         CEP, June 1989
¤  DEACONS                                                                                         back to top

Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem     Motu Proprio Norms for Restoring the Permanent Diaconate in the Latin Church
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  18 June 1967



On the Laity                                                                                      back to top

Apostolicam Actuositatem       Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity
                                                                         Vatican II,  18 Nov 1965
Christifideles Laici                      Apostolic Exhortation on the Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  30 Dec 1988
¤  FAMILY LIFE                                                                                  back to top

Familiaris Consortio                    Apostolic Exhortation on the Role of the Christian Family
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  22 Nov 1981
Letter to Families                         Letter for the UN Year of the Family
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  2 Feb 1994
Familia A Deo Instituta              Motu Proprio Establishing the Pontifical Council for the Family
                                                                         Pope John Paul II, 9 May 1981   [Italian text]
Magnum Matrimonii                   Apostolic Constitution on the Pontifical Instutute for Marriage and the Family
        Sacramentum                                         Pope John Paul II,  7 Oct 1982   [Italian text]

Evangelium Vitae                         Encyclical on the Value and Inviolability of Human Life
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  25 Mar 1995
Humanae Vitae                             Encyclical on the Regulation of Birth
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  25 Jul 1968
Respect for Human Life              Instruction on Respect for Human Life in its Origin and the Dignity of Procreation
                                                                         CDF, 22 Feb 1987
Persona Humana                         Declaration on Certain Questions Regarding Sexual Ethics
                                                                          CDF, 29 Dec 1975
On Uterine Isolation                   Responses to Questions on Uterine Isolation and Other Matters
                                                                         CDF, 31 Jul 1993
Letter on Abortion                      Letter to All the World's Bishops on Combatting Abortion and Euthanasia
     and Euthanasia                                      Pope John Paul II,  19 May 1991

Vitae Mysterium                          Motu Proprio Establishing the Pontifical Academy for Life
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  11 Feb 1994
Communion and Divorce           The Reception of Holy Communion by the Divorced and Remarried Members of the Faithful
                                                                         CDF, 14 Sept 1994
Pastoral Care of Homosexuals   Instruction on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons
                                                                         CDF, 1 Oct 1986
Mulieris Dignitatem                    Apostolic Letter on the Dignity and Vocation of Women
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  15 Aug 1988
Letter to Women                         Letter for the Fourth World Conference on Women at Beijing
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  29 Jun 1995
Dilecti Amici                                Apostolic Letter to the Youth of the World for the International Youth Year
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  31 Mar 1985
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
Causas Matrimoniales                Apostolic Letter Regulating Matrimonial Tribunals and Annullment Processes
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  28 Mar 1971   [Italian text]



On Religious Orders                                                                    back to top

Perfectae Caritatis                       Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life
                                                                         Vatican II,  28 Oct 1965
Vita Consecrata                           Apostolic Exhortation on the Consecrated Life
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  25 Mar 1996
Redemptionis Donum                 Apostolic Exhortation to Men and Women Religious
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  25 March 1984
Apostolica Testificatio               Apostolic Exhortation on Renewal of the Religious Life According to Vatican II
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  29 Jun 1971
On Religious Life                         Essential Elements in the Church’s Teaching on Religious Life
                                                                         CRSI, 31 May 1983
Verbi Sponsa                                Instruction on the Contemplative Life and on the Enclosure of Nuns
                                                                         CICLSAL, 13 May 1999
Contemplative Dimension          Guidelines on the Contemplative Dimension of Religious Life
                                                                         CRSI, 12 Aug 1980
Fraternal Life                                Instruction on Fraternal Life in Community
                                                                         CICLSAL, 21 Feb 1994
Inter-Institute Formation            Instruction on Inter-Instutute Collaboration for Formation
                                                                         CICLSAL, 8 Dec 1998
Formation of Religious               Direction on Formation in Religious Institutes
                                                                         CICLSAL, 2 Feb 1990
Religious and Human                 Guidelines on Religious and Human Promotion
        Promotion                                               CRSI, 12 Aug 1980
Letter to Religious                       Letter to Religious for the Marian Year
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  22 May 1988



On Divine Revelation & Church Teaching                    back to top

Dei Verbum                                   Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation
                                                                         Vatican II,  18 Nov 1965
Scripturarum Thesaurus             Apostolic Constitution Promulgating the New Vulgate Edition of the Holy Bible
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  25 Apr 1979
The Roman Missal                      Apostolic Constitution Promulgating the Roman Missal Revised by Vatican II
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  3 Apr1969
Fidei Depositum                          Apostolic Constitution on the Publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  11 Oct 1992
Laetamur Magnopere                 Apostolic Letter Promulgating the Latin Typical Edition of the Catechism
                                                               of the Catholic Church
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  15 Aug 1997
Sacrae Disciplinae Leges           Apostolic Constitution for the Promulgation of the New Code of Canon Law
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  25 Jan 1983
Ad Tuendam Fidem                    Motu Proprio Amending the Code of Canon Law Regarding Magisterial Truths
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  18 May 1998
Fides et Ratio                              Encyclical on the Relationship Between Faith and Reason
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  14 Sept 1998
Veritatis Splendor                       Encyclical on Fundamental Questions of the Church’s Moral Teaching
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  6 Aug 1993
Vocation of the Theologian       Instruction on the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian
                                                                         CDF, 24 May 1990
On Liberation Theology             Instruction on Certain Aspects on the Theology of Liberation
                                                                         CDF, 6 Aug 1984
¤  THEOLOGICAL EXEGESIS                                                         back to top

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
Redemptor Hominis                    Encyclical "Redeemer of Man" at the Beginning of His Papal Ministry
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  4 Mar 1979
Dominum et Vivificantem           Encyclical on the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church and the World
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  18 May 1986
Dives in Misericordia                 Encyclical on the Mercy of God
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  30 Nov 1980
Indulgientiarum Doctrina           Apostolic Constitution on the History and Doctrine of Indulgences
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  1 Jan 1967
Gaudete in Domino                     Apostolic Exhortation on Christian Joy
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  9 May 1975
Salvifici Doloris                           Apostolic Letter on the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  11 Feb 1984
Grata Recordatio                          Encyclical on the Rosary
                                                                         Pope John XXIII,  26 Sept 1959
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
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
Letter to Artists                           Letter to Artists on Easter Sunday
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  4 Apr 1999



On the Liturgy & Sacraments                                                back to top

Sacrosanctum Concilium            Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
                                                                         Vatican II,  4 Dec 1963
Sacram Liturgiam                         Motu Proprio on the Sacred Liturgy
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  25 Jan 1964
Vicesimus Quintus Annus         Apostolic Letter on the Sacred Liturgy on the 25th Anniversary of the
                                                                Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  4 Dec 1988
The Roman Missal                      Apostolic Constitution Promulgating the Roman Missal Revised by Vatican II
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  3 Apr1969
Dies Domini                                  Apostolic Letter on Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  31 May 1998
Incarnationis Mysterium           Bull of Indiction of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  29 Nov 1998
Novo Millennio Ineunte            Apostolic Letter at the Close of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  6 Jan 2001
Tertio Millennio Adveniente    Apostolic Letter on Preparation for the Jubilee of the Year 2000
                                                                         Pope John Paul II,  10 Nov 1994
Paterna cum Benevolentia         Apostolic Exhortation for the Holy Year of 1975
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  8 Dec 1974   [Italian text]
¤  THE EUCHARIST                                                                           back to top

Dominicae Cenae                        Letter to Bishops on the Mystery and Worship of the Eucharist
                                                                         Pope John Paul II, 24 Feb 1980
Mysterium Fidei                          Encyclical on the Holy Eucharist
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  3 Sep 1965
Sanguis Christi                            Apostolic Letter on Devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ
                                                                         Pope John XXIII,  30 Jun 1960
The Paschal Mystery                 Apostolic Letter on the Celebration of the Paschal Mystery
                                                                         Pope Paul VI,  3 Feb 1969   [Portuguese text]
Communion and Divorce           The Reception of Holy Communion by the Divorced and Remarried Members of the Faithful
                                                                         CDF, 14 Sept 1994
¤  PENANCE                                                                                         back to top

Paenitemini                                  Apostol