An encyclical is a letter the Pope writes and sends out to Roman Catholic bishops — and, through them, often to the whole Church. The name comes from the old idea of a “circular” letter: not a private note to one person, but a letter that goes around a whole circle of leaders.

An encyclical教宗通諭 is a letter the Pope writes and sends out是教宗寫了發出去的一封信， to Roman Catholic bishops給羅馬天主教主教們， and, through them, often然後常常透過他們， to the whole Church傳到整個教會。 The name這名稱 comes from來自 the old idea of a “circular” letter舊時「circular（傳閱信）」的概念： not a private note to one person不是給某一個人的私人短信， but a letter that goes around a whole circle of leaders而是一封會傳遍一整圈領袖的信。

It can also be used as a describing word: an encyclical letter. It is a church word, not a school-book word.

It這個詞 can also be used as a describing word也可以當形容詞用： an encyclical letter例如encyclical letter（教宗通諭式的信）。 It is這是 a church word教會用語， not a school-book word不是課本上的詞。

People who are not Catholic may never need it, except in the news when a Pope takes a public stand on war, the poor, or the earth. Though actually, it is easy to mix with encyclopedia because both start the same way and share the same Greek “circle” idea; one is a letter that goes around, the other is a circle of learning.

People who are not Catholic不是天主教徒的人 may never need it可能一輩子都用不到這個詞， except in the news除了在新聞裡， when a Pope takes a public stand教宗公開表態的時候 on war, the poor, or the earth針對戰爭、貧窮或地球議題。 Though actually,不過其實， it is easy to mix with encyclopedia這個詞很容易跟encyclopedia（百科全書）搞混 because both start the same way因為兩個字開頭一樣 and share the same Greek “circle” idea而且都來自希臘文「圓」的概念： one is a letter that goes around,一個是會傳閱的信 the other is a circle of learning另一個是知識的一整圈。

An encyclical is not a book of facts. It is a teaching letter from the top of the Catholic Church.

An encyclical教宗通諭 is not不是 a book of facts一本事實資料的書。 from the top of the Catholic Church來自天主教會最高層的 It is a teaching letter是一封教導性質的信。