Amantissimus

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The encyclical Amantissimus of Pope Pius IX. addressed to the bishops of the Eastern Churches. With this Apostolic Circular, issued on April 8, 1862, the Pope urged the unity of the Eastern and Catholic churches.

In order to attune the bishops of the Eastern Church to the unity of the Catholic Church, the Pope refers to the appointment of the Apostle Peter through Jesus Christ . The Holy See is the preserver and guardian of unity. It is the will of God, he argues, that his followers and the employees he appoints obey the laws and dogmas. It is from here that all basic instructions and teachings follow; he, the Holy See, is the highest power of the Catholic Church. The Pope laments the attempts to turn away from the Catholic Church and to turn to the Eastern rites. He continues to urge the bishops to stand up for adherence to Catholic teaching in their dioceses and to exert influence on the formation of the clergy. In the final part, the Pope particularly emphasizes the work of the monks who, through their exemplary life and work, but also through their discipline, contribute to the good of the Church and the faith.

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