Apostolic Constitution

An Apostolic Constitution is a highest category of a document of instruction issued by the Roman Catholic Pope or by a Church council with the approval of the Pope. Two specific categories of Apostolic Constitutions exist:

• A Dogmatic Constitution, proclaiming Church dogma;
• A Pastoral Constitution, proclaiming the Church's pastoral teaching.

The next highest category, after an Apostolic Constitution, is an Encyclical Letter.

Examples of Apostolic Constitutions

• Universi Dominici Gregis (1995) – John Paul II's rules on electing a pontiff

• Ex-Corde Excclesiae (1990) John Paul II's rules on Catholic universities

• Fidei Depositum (1993) Pope John II's Apostolic Constitution on the new Catechism of the Catholic Church

• Ut Sit (1982) Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Constitution raising Opus Dei to the rank of a personal prelature

• Romano Pontifici Eligendo (1975) Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution on the election on the pontiff

• Missale Romanum (1969) Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution on the revised liturgy

• Veterum Sapientia (1962) Pope John XXIII's Apostolic Constitution on the promotion of the study of Latin

• Ineffabilis Deus (1854) Pope Pius IX's Dogmatic Constitution on the Immaculate Conception

• Quo Primum (1570) Pope Pius V's Apostolic Constitution on the Tridentine Mass