Pastor Column: Summi Pontificatus

[Note: This is not the Sunday Homily. It is an article from the bulletin of May 8, 2022]      In 1939, not long after Pope Pius XII was elected pope, he wrote his first encyclical titled Summi Pontificatus, which translates to “Supreme Pontificate.” This document was meant to set a tone for his pontificate and so he used those words in the title. The subtitle, however, tells us what this particular document is about: On the Unity of Human Society.      Like most encyclicals, this one begins with a rather lengthy introduction summarizing recent events and documents and praising God...Read More