Apostolic constitution

An apostolic constitution (Latin: constitutio apostolica) is the most solemn form of legislation issued by the Pope.[1][2]

By their nature, apostolic constitutions are addressed to the public. Generic constitutions use the title apostolic constitution and treat on solemn matters of the church, such as the promulgation of laws or definitive teachings. The forms dogmatic constitution and pastoral constitution are titles sometimes used to be more descriptive as to the document's purpose.[3]

Apostolic constitutions are issued as papal bulls because of their solemn, public form. Among types of papal legislation, apostolic letters issued motu proprio are next in solemnity.[1]

Examples of apostolic constitutions

16th century

Quo primum (1570) Pius V's Apostolic Constitution on the Tridentine Mass[4][5]

19th century

Ineffabilis Deus (1854) Pius IX's Dogmatic Constitution on the Immaculate Conception of Mary
Ad universalis ecclesiae (1862) Pius IX's Papal Constitution dealing with the conditions for admission to religious orders of men in which solemn vows are prescribed
Romanos Pontifices (1881) by Pope Leo XIII

20th century

Bis saeculari (1948), Pope Pius XII on Sodality of Our Lady
Munificentissimus Deus (1950) Pope Pius XII's Dogmatic Constitution on the Assumption of Mary
Exsul familia (1952) Pope Pius XII's Constitution on Migration
Veterum sapientia (1962) Pope John XXIII's Apostolic Constitution on the promotion of the study of Latin
Dei verbum (1965) Pope Paul VI's Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation
Lumen gentium (1964) by Pope Paul VI
Paenitemini (1966) Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution on Fasting and Abstinence in the Roman Catholic Church
Missale Romanum (1969) Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution on the revised liturgy
Romano Pontifici eligendo (1975) Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution on the election of the Roman pontiff
Scripturarum thesaurus (1979) Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Constitution on the promulgation New Vulgate as "Typical" for liturgical use
Ut sit (1982) Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Constitution raising Opus Dei (Latin for "The Work of God") to the rank of a Personal Prelature (similar to a diocese, but grouping people by some peculiar pastoral reason instead of by where they live)
Sacrae disciplinae leges (1983) Pope John Paul II's constitution instituting the 1983 Code of Canon Law
Pastor bonus (1988) Pope John Paul II's rules on the re-organisation of the Roman Curia
Ex corde Ecclesiae (1990) John Paul II's rules on Catholic universities
Fidei depositum (1992) Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Constitution on the new Catechism of the Catholic Church
Universi Dominici gregis (1996) Pope John Paul II's rules on electing the Roman Pontiff (the Pope)

21st century

Anglicanorum coetibus (2009) Pope Benedict XVI's rules for providing for Personal Ordinariates for Anglican laypeople and clergy wishing to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.
Vultum Dei quaerere (2016) Pope Francis' rules about women's contemplative life.[6]
Veritatis gaudium (2017) Pope Francis' reform of pontifical universities and faculties.
Episcopalis communio (2018) strengthens the power and influence of the Synod of Bishops.[7][8]
Pascite gregem Dei. (2021)[9]
Praedicate evangelium (2022) about the Roman Curia and its service to the Church and the world. [10][11]

References

Citations

New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, pg. 57, footnote 36.
"Mann, Stephanie A., "What Is a Papal Bull?", Our Sunday Visitor, September 1, 2016". Archived from the original on January 12, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
Smith, Randall (July 19, 2014). "A Pastoral and Dogmatic Council". The Catholic Thing. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
Patrick Madrid, Peter Vere, More Catholic than the Pope (Our Sunday Visitor 2004 ISBN 978-1-93170926-2), p. 125
"Quo Primum". Papal Encyclicals. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
Pentin, Edward (22 July 2016). "Pope Francis Issues New Apostolic Constitution on Women's Contemplative Life". National Catholic Register. EWTN News, Inc. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
"Costituzione Apostolica "Episcopalis communio" di Papa Francesco sul Sinodo dei Vescovi" (in Italian). 18 September 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
Pantin, Edward. "18 September 2018". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
"Sistema penale. Giro di vite sui reati nella Chiesa. La giustizia "abbraccia" la carità". www.avvenire.it (in Italian). 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
"PRAEDICATE EVANGELIUM".
"PRAEDICATE EVANGELIUM- On the Roman Curia and its service to the Church in the world (19/03/2022)". 31 December 2022.

Sources

Huels, John M. "A theory of juridical documents based on canons 29-34", Studia Canonica, 1998, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 337–370.
Beal, John P., James A. Coriden, Thomas J. Green. New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law: Commissioned by the Canon Law Society of America (New York: Paulist Press, 2000).

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[NewCommentary57-1] New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, pg. 57, footnote 36.

[2] "Mann, Stephanie A., "What Is a Papal Bull?", Our Sunday Visitor, September 1, 2016". Archived from the original on January 12, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2017.

[3] Smith, Randall (July 19, 2014). "A Pastoral and Dogmatic Council". The Catholic Thing. Retrieved April 19, 2023.

[4] Patrick Madrid, Peter Vere, More Catholic than the Pope (Our Sunday Visitor 2004 ISBN 978-1-93170926-2), p. 125

[5] "Quo Primum". Papal Encyclicals. Retrieved June 27, 2023.

[:0-6] Pentin, Edward (22 July 2016). "Pope Francis Issues New Apostolic Constitution on Women's Contemplative Life". National Catholic Register. EWTN News, Inc. Retrieved 23 July 2016.

[7] "Costituzione Apostolica "Episcopalis communio" di Papa Francesco sul Sinodo dei Vescovi" (in Italian). 18 September 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2019.

[8] Pantin, Edward. "18 September 2018". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 21 May 2019.

[9] "Sistema penale. Giro di vite sui reati nella Chiesa. La giustizia "abbraccia" la carità". www.avvenire.it (in Italian). 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-21.

[10] "PRAEDICATE EVANGELIUM".

[11] "PRAEDICATE EVANGELIUM- On the Roman Curia and its service to the Church in the world (19/03/2022)". 31 December 2022.