Princeps pastorum
| Princeps pastorum Latin for 'Prince of the Shepherds' Encyclical of Pope John XXIII | |
|---|---|
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| Signature date | 28 November 1959 |
| Subject | About the missionary apostolate |
| Number | 4 of 8 of the pontificate |
| Text | In Latin In English |
| ← Grata recordatio Mater et magistra → | |
Princeps pastorum (Latin for 'Prince of the shepherds') is the title of an encyclical letter promulgated by Pope John XXIII on 28 November 1959.[1][2] Its title is derived from a passage in the First Epistle of Peter concerning the "chief shepherd" or "prince of pastors",[3] referring to Jesus Christ. In its English translation the letter opens with the phrase On the day when "the Prince of the shepherds" entrusted to Us His lambs and sheep.[4]
Contents
The letter celebrates the success of Catholic missions to promote the faith, encourages the fostering of native clergy in the countries to which the missions extended[5] and emphasises the importance of lay Catholics as representatives of the church in non-Catholic countries.[6] The encyclical points out that while social welfare initiatives are to be supported, the primary task of missions should be to spread Catholic doctrine.[7]
An observation regarding the need to adapt missionary methods to "local conditions and needs",[8] which may vary around the world, is acknowledged in the Second Vatican Council's Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity published in 1965.[9]
See also
References
- Back to citation Millot, René Pierre (1961). Missions in the world today. Hawthorn Books. p. 25.
- Back to citation Ebelebe, Charles A. (2009). Africa and the New Face of Mission: A Critical Assessment of the Legacy of the Irish Spiritans Among the Igbo of Southeastern Nigeria. University Press of America. p. 79. ISBN 9780761845966.
- Back to citation 1 Peter 5:4: Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
- Back to citation 'Princeps Pastorum', Catholic Encyclopedia Retrieved June 1, 2005.
- Back to citation Patterson, Colin (2019). "What has eschatology to do with the gospel? An analysis of papal documents on mission ad gentes". Missiology: An International Review. 47 (3): 285–299. doi:10.1177/0091829619854549. S2CID 199278942.
- Back to citation Kanjamala, Augustine (2014). The Future of Christian Mission in India: Toward a New Paradigm for the Third Millennium. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 296. ISBN 9781630874858.
- Back to citation Keating, Kevin T. (2018). Papal Teaching in the Age of Infallibility, 1870 to the Present: A Critical Evaluation with Historical Illustrations. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 327. ISBN 9781532635540.
- Back to citation Holy See, Princeps pastorum, (Vatican edition), paragraph 44, accessed on 20 May 2026
- Back to citation Second Vatican Council, Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (Apostolicam Actuositatem), paragraph 19, published on 18 November 1965, accessed on 20 May 2026