It is a long-standing and well-established tradition in the Catholic Church that the title of a papal encyclical is derived from its first few words, known as the incipit. This practice serves as a primary method for cataloging and referencing these documents within the ecclesiastical archives.[3]

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This naming convention is not merely a stylistic choice but a functional one, ensuring that each document is easily identifiable by its opening phrase. As noted in authoritative reference works on church history and canon law, the incipit—the Latin term for "it begins"—functions as the official title of the encyclical.[1] While the content of these letters addresses diverse theological, social, and moral issues, the formal designation remains tethered to the initial words of the Latin text.[2] [4]

For example, Pope Leo XIII’s seminal 1891 document on the condition of the working classes is titled Rerum Novarum, which are the first two words of the Latin text, meaning "of new things."[4] Similarly, the 2026 encyclical by Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica Humanitas, takes its name from its opening words, which translate to "magnificent humanity."[5] While the official version is traditionally written in Latin, the practice of using the incipit as the title persists regardless of the language in which the document is primarily disseminated.[2] [4]

World's Most Authoritative Sources

  1. Cross, F.L. and Livingstone, E.A. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. (Print, Reference Publication)↩
  2. Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclical↩
  3. Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. What is a Papal Encyclical?↩
  4. Papal Encyclicals Online. Relevant Documents from the Past↩
  5. Ascension Press. Everything You Need to Know About Magnifica Humanitas↩

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