Qui pluribus

In the inaugural encyclical of Pope Pius IX. Qui pluribus of November 9, 1846 , all topics that shaped his pontificate are addressed .

Overview

In the encyclical he condemned liberalism and described “ communism, first so-called in a papal document ” as a “hideous doctrine which is in the highest degree opposed to natural law and which, once it comes to power, will lead to a radical overthrow of the law Living conditions, property and human society ”.

The main features of his syllabus from 1864 are already clearly recognizable in this encyclical. In addition to communism, he turns against democracy , liberalism and socialism , especially insofar as these “errors of time” can endanger the freedom of the church.

Attitude to mass media

The Popes' attitude towards the mass media was skeptical and not always constructive. In his encyclical he condemned the unrestrained freedom to think, say, and print anything.

The Bible Societies

To this end, he writes of the Bible societies that renew the old artifice of the heretics (false teachers) and translate the books of the divine scriptures into all national languages, contrary to the most sacred prescriptions of the Church, and provide them with often twisted explanations.

literature

• Bruno Moser (ed.): The papacy - epochs and shapes . Südwest Verlag, Munich 1983, ISBN 3-517-00809-5 .
• Georg Schwaiger / Manfred Heim: Small Lexicon of the Popes. Verlag CH Beck, Munich 2005, ISBN 3-406-51134-1 .

See also

• List of papal acts and pronouncements against Freemasonry and secret societies

Web links

• Text of the encyclical in English

Individual evidence

1. ^ Rudolf Lill , History of Italy from the 16th Century to the Beginnings of Fascism . Scientific Book Society, Darmstadt 1980, p. 125