Pope Francis has just released his first encyclical, Lumen Fidei, or “the light of faith.”

14 things you need to know 

about Pope Francis’s new encyclical

by Jimmy Akin

Pope Francis has just released his first encyclical, 

Lumen Fidei, or “the light of faith.”

The first encyclical of a pope is always closely watched, because it frequently signals the way in which he intends to govern the Church.

This new encyclical is even more intriguing because much of it was actually written by former Pope Benedict.

Here are 14 things you need to know . . .

1. What is an encyclical?
An encyclical is a kind of letter. Papal encyclicals usually deal with matters of Church teaching (doctrine). Popes write them when they feel they have something important to say about particular teachings.

Although they are not infallible, encyclicals are authoritative.

The word “encyclical” comes from the Greek word for “circle,” indicating that it is to be circulated among different people.

The encyclical Lumen Fidei is addressed to “the bishops, priests, and deacons, consecrated persons, and the lay faithful.” This indicates a broad audience.

You can read the full encyclical here.
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2. How did this encyclical come to be?3. Has this ever happened before?
4. Does Lumen Fidei acknowledge Pope Benedict’s role in its composition?
5. Does Lumen Fidei sound like Pope Benedict?
6. Do particular passages sound like Pope Francis?
7. How is the encyclical structured?
8. What does the introduction cover?
9. What does the first chapter cover?
10. What does the second chapter cover?
11. What does the third chapter cover?
12. What does the fourth chapter cover?
13. Does it stress the fact that marriage is the union of man and woman?
14. Does this encyclical tell us much about how Pope Francis will govern the Church?

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