Princeps pastorum
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] It is derived from a biblical passage: I Peter 5:4. 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. It refers to Jesus Christ.
| 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 | |
It celebrates the success of Roman Catholic missions to promote the faith, encourages the fostering of native clergy in the countries to which the missions extended[3] and emphasises the importance of lay Catholics as representatives of the church in non-Catholic countries.[4] The encyclical points out that while social welfare initiatives are to be supported, the primary task of missions should be to spread Catholic doctrine.[5]
References
- 'Princeps Pastorum', Catholic Encyclopedia Retrieved June 1, 2005.
- Millot, René Pierre (1961). Missions in the world today. Hawthorn Books. p. 25.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.