TechnologyJuly 8, 2026

encyclical

/ɪnˈsɪklɪkəl/

Definition

A formal letter or document sent by a Pope to all bishops of the Roman Catholic Church, often addressing matters of significant moral or social concern.

Etymology

The word originates from the Greek 'egkyklios', meaning 'circular' or 'general'. It entered Middle English through the Latin 'encyclicus', denoting a letter intended to be circulated among multiple recipients.

In the news

In this article, the term refers to a specific document titled 'Magnifica humanitas' written by Pope Leo XIV to address the ethical implications and societal impact of artificial intelligence.

Pope on AI: It is important to dialogue with everyone to promote the common good

Read the full article ↗

Vatican News

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.

Not for marketing. One email on launch day.