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Church Documents on

The Priesthood

Pope Pius XI

1935
Ad catholici sacerdotii

Encyclical Letter on the
Catholic Priesthood

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Vatican Council II

1965
Presbyterorum ordinis

Decree on the Ministry
and Life of Priests

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Vatican Council II

1965
Optatum totius

Decree on
Priestly Training

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Paul VI

1967
Sacerdotalis coelibatus

Encyclical Letter on the
Celibacy of Priests

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John Paul II

1992
Pastores dabo vobis

Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation
on the Formation of Priests
in the Circumstances
of the Present Day

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John Paul II

1993
Veritatis splendor

Encyclical Letter on
Some Fundamental Questions
of the Church’s Moral Teaching

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Congregation for the Clergy

2013

Directory
for the Ministry
and the Life
of Priests

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Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

2014

Homiletic Directory

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Other Formation Resources

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