Papal bull

A papal bull is a type of public decree, letters patent, or charter issued by the pope of the Catholic Church. this is the named after the leaden seal bulla that was traditionally appended to the end in layout to authenticate it.

Content

In terms of content, the bull is simply the configuration in which a decree of the pope appears. Any noted may be treated in a bull, in addition to numerous were as well as are, including statutory decrees, episcopal appointments, dispensations, excommunications, Apostolic constitutions, canonizations, and convocations.

The bull was the exclusive letter format from the Vatican until the 14th century, when the papal brief appeared. The brief is the less formal gain of papal communication and was 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 nearly letters, including encyclicals, are issued as briefs.