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An apostolic constitution ( Latin '''constitutio apostolica''') is the highest level of Decree issued by the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church . The use of the term '' Constitution '' comes from Latin ''constitutio'', which referred to any important law issued by the Roman Emperor , and is retained in church documents because of the inheritance that the Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church received from Roman Law .

By their nature, apostolic constitutions are addressed to the public. Generic constitutions use the title ''Apostolic Constitution'', and treat on solemn matters of the church, such as the promulgation of statutes or definitive teachings. The forms ''Dogmatic Constitution'' and ''Pastoral Constitution'' are titles sometimes used to be more descriptive as to the document's purpose.

Apostolic Constitutions are issued as Papal Bull s due to their solemn, public form. The next highest category, after an Apostolic Constitution, is an Encyclical Letter .


EXAMPLES OF APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTIONS




REFERENCES

  • Huels, John M. "A theory of juridical documents based on canons 29-34", ''Studia Canonica'', 1998, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 337-370.