Important Papal Documents Issued This Day

On this day at various times in history, several important papal documents were issued. In 1908, Pope St. Pius X issued the Apostolic Constitution Sapienti Consilio which removed the United States from mission status, a sign of the American Church’s coming of age. In 1931, Pope Pius XI issued the encyclical Non abbiamo bisogno, which disputed the claims of Italian Fascism. Five years later, he issued the encyclical Vigilanti Cura, which addressed the topic of film. Finally, in 1943, Pope Pius XII issued Mystici Corporis, on the Mystical Body of Christ.