JoMaCC Journal of Modern and Contemporary Christianity

Journal | JoMaCC
Journal issue | 3 | 1 | 2024
Research Article | A ‘Factory’ of Encyclicals

A ‘Factory’ of Encyclicals

The Drafting Process of the Pacellian Encyclicals and the Sources for its Reconstruction (1939-58)

Abstract

The publication of an encyclical is a defined moment of the ordinary papal magisterium. It involves a plurality of actors and procedures shrouded in secrecy. The opening of the records of Pius XII’s pontificate at the Vatican Archives allows us to uncover the workings behind his encyclicals: what were the motivations, who suggested the content of the encyclical, were there ghost writers, editors (mainly Antonio Bacci), revisers, and translators? All those who worked at the encyclicals operated under the direction of Giovanni Battista Montini (later of Angelo Dell’Acqua) and the meticulous control of a Pontiff who was open to demands from below and the needs of the Church and Society.


Open access | Peer reviewed

Submitted: Feb. 5, 2024 | Accepted: Feb. 29, 2024 | Published April 23, 2024 | Language: it

Keywords Papal Encyclicals’ drafting processPope’s ghost writersRoman MagisteriumPope Pius XIIRoman Curia


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