Papal bull
The Papal bull is the most formal form of patent issued by the Vatican Chancery in the name of the pope. It used to bear a metal seal, which was its namesake, but now only on the most solemn occasions. Like all papal communications, the title of the document is its opening words after the address, called the incipit.
The bull is the only written communication in which the pope will address himself as Episcopus, Servus Servorum Dei, meaning "Bishop, Servant of the Servants of God." For instance, Benedict XVI, when he issues a decree in bull form, will begin the document with Benedictum, Episcopus, Servus Servorum Dei.
The most distictive characteristic of a bull, though, was the metal seal. This seal was usually made of lead but on very solemn occasions was made of gold. It depicted the founders of the church of Rome, the apostles Peter and Paul, on the obverse side and the name of the issuing pope on the reverse. This was then attached to the document by either cords of hemp or red and yellow silk that was looped through slits in the document. The term bulla actually is the name of this seal, which to ancient observers looked like a bubble floating on water. Bullire in Latin means "to boil". Since the late 18th century, the lead bulla has been replaced with a red ink stamp of Sts. Peter and Paul with the reigning pope's name encircling the picture, though very formal letters, e.g. the bull of John XXIII convoking the Second Vatican Council, still receive the lead seal.
The bull is simply the format in which a decree of the pope appears. Any subject may be treated in a bull, and many are, from statutory decrees and episcopal appointments to dispensations. This is because the bull was the exclusive letter format from the Vatican until the 14th century, when the Papal brief began to appear. It is the less formal form of papal communication and is authenticated with a wax impression (now a red ink impression) of the Ring of the Fisherman. There has never been an exact distinction of usage between a bull and a brief, but nowadays most letters, including Papal encyclicals, are issued as briefs.
Examples of papal bulls
- Omne Datum Optimum, 1139 (recognizing the Knights Templar)
- Milites Templi, 1144—Celestine II (granting privileges to the Templars)
- Militia Dei, 1145—Eugenius III (granting more privileges to the Templars)
- Ad extirpanda, May 15, 1252—Innocent IV (authorizing torture of heretics)
- Clericis Laicos, 1296—Boniface VIII (prohibiting seizure of clerical revenues by the state)
- Unam Sanctam, 1302—Boniface VIII (supremacy of the Church over the state)
- Fasciens misericordiam, 1308—Clement V
- Regnans in coelis, 1308—Clement V
- Dum diversas, 1452—Pope Nicholas V (authorizing Alfonso V of Portugal enslave infidels in West Africa)
- Romanus Pontifex 1455—Pope Nicholas V (follow up to Dum diversas, authorizing conquest and enslavement of all people south of Cape Bojador)
- Aeterni regis, 1481—Sixtus IV (dividing the New World between Spain and Portugal)
- Summis desiderantes, 1484—Innocent VIII (suppressing witchcraft along the Rhein river).
- Inter caetera, 1493—Alexander VI (realigning the New World division between Spain and Portugal)
- Exsurge Domine, 1520—Leo X (warning Martin Luther)
- Docet Romanum Pontificem, 1521—Leo X (excommunicating Martin Luther)
- Regimini militantis, September 27, 1540—Paul III (establishing the Jesuits)
- Injunctum nobis, March 14, 1543—Paul III
- In Coena Domini, 1568—Pius V
- Regnans in Excelsis, 1570—Pius V (anathemising Elizabeth I)
- Inter gravissimas, 1582—Gregory XIII (calendar reform)
- Gratia Divina, 1656
- Unigenitus, 1713—Clement XI (condemning Jansenism)
- Immensa Aeterni Dei, 1588—Pope Sixtus V
- Dei Verbum, 1965—Pope Paul VI from the Second Vatican Council
See also
External links
Categories: History of the Papacy