| Aeterna Dei sapientia Latin for 'God's eternal wisdom' Encyclical ofPopeJohn XXIII | |
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| Signature date | 11 November 1961 |
| Subject | the See of Peter as the centre of Christian unity |
| Number | 6 of 8 of the pontificate |
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Aeterna Dei sapientia ("God's eternal wisdom") was the sixthencyclical made byPope John XXIII, and was issued on 11 November 1961. It commemorates the fifteenthcentennial of the death ofPope Leo I, also known as Leo the Great and aDoctor of the Church. It calls forChristian unity. It calls forChristendom to unite against external movements such ascommunism andsecularism.[1]
The encyclical begins by telling a history of Pope Leo, briefly referencing his life before becoming pope, then going into greater detail about his papacy. John talks of his refutation of heresy, particularlyPelagianism andNestorianism, and his support of Catholic orthodoxy, such as his defense of Catholic teaching on theIncarnation of Christ. John then puts Leo's papacy in the context of the upcomingSecond Vatican Council. He called for the Catholic Church to be united during the council, saying "Surrounding the Roman Pontiff and in close communion with him, you, theBishops, will present to the world a wonderful spectacle of Catholic unity." He then mentions the doctrine of theinfallibility of the church promulgated by his predecessor,Pope Pius IX, and discusses the development of the modern understanding of the papacy. He cites Pope Leo as one of those popes who furthered papal authority over the church. After more discussion of theMagisterium and the council, John concludes by acknowledging the division present in the church, invoking Pope Leo, and once more calling for unity.[2]