1. a letter or document issued by the Pope and addressed to the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church or to all Catholics
Usage: religious; formal

1. intended for circulation among a wide audience; circular in distribution
Usage: formal; less common than noun sense

Examples

• Pope Francis issued an encyclical on climate change and environmental responsibility.
• The encyclical addressed the moral obligations of Catholics worldwide.
• Encyclical letters have been used by the Church for centuries to communicate doctrine.
• The bishop received the papal encyclical and shared it with his diocese.
• This encyclical message was distributed to all parishes in the region.