Editing Pope Paul VI (section)

===Theology===
====Mariology====
{{Main|Mariology of Pope Paul VI}}
[[File:Paulo VI em Fátima.jpg|thumb|right|Paul VI during his visit to the [[Sanctuary of Fátima]] in 1967]]
Pope Paul VI made extensive contributions to [[Mariology]] (theological teaching and devotions) during his pontificate. Given its new ecumenical orientation, he attempted to present the Marian teachings of the church. In his inaugural encyclical ''Ecclesiam suam'' (section below), the Pope called Mary the ideal of Christian perfection. He regards "devotion to the Mother of God as of paramount importance in living the life of the Gospel."<ref>''Ecclesiam suam'', 58</ref>

====Encyclicals====
Paul VI authored seven [[encyclical]]s.

=====''Ecclesiam suam''=====
{{Main|Ecclesiam suam}}
''Ecclesiam suam'' was given at St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, on the [[Feast of the Transfiguration]], 6 August 1964, the second year of his pontificate. Paul VI appealed to "all people of good will" and discussed necessary dialogues within the Church, between the churches, and with atheism.<ref name="Franzen 425" />

=====''Mense maio''=====
{{Main|Mense maio}}
The encyclical ''[[Mense maio]]'' (from 29 April 1965) focused on the Virgin Mary, to whom traditionally the month of May is dedicated as the Mother of God. Paul VI writes that Mary is rightly regarded as how people are led to Christ. Therefore, the person who encounters Mary cannot help but encounter Christ.<ref>''Mense maio'', 1</ref>

=====''Mysterium fidei''=====
{{Main|Mysterium fidei (encyclical)}}
On 3 September 1965, Paul VI issued ''Mysterium fidei'', on the [[Eucharist]]. The encyclical critiques certain contemporary Eucharistic theologies and liturgical practices perceived to undermine traditional Catholic doctrine. The Church, according to Paul VI, has no reason to give up the deposit of faith in such a vital matter.<ref name="Franzen 425" />

=====''Christi Matri''=====
{{Main|Christi Matri}}
On 15 September 1966, Paul VI issued ''Christi Matri'', a request for the faithful to pray for peace during October 1966. As reasons for this call to prayer, Paul VI alludes to the [[Vietnam War]] and lists concern about "the growing [[Nuclear arms race|nuclear armaments race]], the senseless nationalism, the racism, the obsession for revolution, the separations imposed upon citizens, the nefarious plots, the slaughter of innocent people."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pope Paul VI |title=CHRISTI MATRI |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_15091966_christi-matri.html |page=1 |access-date=5 August 2023 |archive-date=5 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905090539/https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_15091966_christi-matri.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=====''Populorum progressio''=====
{{Main|Populorum progressio}}
[[File:Paulaudenece1977.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Paul VI at an audience in October 1977]]
''Populorum progressio'', released on 26 March 1967, dealt with "the development of peoples" and that the world's economy should serve humanity and not just a few. It develops traditional principles of Catholic social teaching, including the right to a just wage, the right to security of employment, the right to fair and reasonable working conditions, the right to join a union, and the [[universal destination of goods]].

In addition, ''Populorum progressio'' opines that real peace in the world is conditional on justice. He repeated his demands expressed in Bombay in 1964 for a large-scale World Development Organization as a matter of international justice and peace. He rejected notions of instigating revolution and force in changing economic conditions.<ref>Franzen 426</ref>

=====''Sacerdotalis caelibatus''=====
{{Main|Sacerdotalis caelibatus}}
''Sacerdotalis caelibatus'' (Latin for "Of the celibate priesthood"), promulgated on 24 June 1967, defends the Catholic Church's tradition of [[Clerical celibacy in the Catholic Church|priestly celibacy]] in the West. Written in response to postconciliar questioning of the discipline of clerical celibacy, the encyclical reaffirms the historical ecclesiastical discipline that because celibacy is an ideal state, it continues to be mandatory for priests. To Catholic conceptions of the priesthood, celibacy symbolizes the reality of the kingdom of God amid modern society. The priestly celibacy is closely linked to the sacramental priesthood.<ref name="Franzen 425" /> However, during his pontificate, Paul VI was permissive in allowing bishops to grant [[Loss of clerical state|laicisation of priests]] who wanted to leave the [[sacerdotal state]]. [[John Paul II]] changed this policy in 1980, and the 1983 Code of [[Canon Law]] made it explicit that only the Pope can, in exceptional circumstances, grant laicization.

=====''Humanae vitae''=====
{{Main|Humanae vitae}}
[[File:Pape Paul VI – Vatican, 1968.jpg|thumb|242x242px|Paul VI in his office on 29 June 1968]]
Of his seven encyclicals, Pope Paul VI is best known for his encyclical ''Humanae vitae'' (''Of Human Life'', subtitled ''On the Regulation of Birth''), published on 25 July 1968, responding to the findings of the [[Pontifical Commission on Birth Control]], affirming the minority report. The encyclical reaffirmed the Catholic Church's prior condemnation of [[contraception|artificial birth control]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Audio/Year_in_Review/Events-of-1968/Pope-Paul-VI/Garbage-Strike/12303153093431-7/|title=1968 Year in Review|publisher=[[United Press International]]|access-date=12 September 2010|archive-date=14 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914063442/http://www.upi.com/Audio/Year_in_Review/Events-of-1968/Pope-Paul-VI/Garbage-Strike/12303153093431-7/|url-status=live}}</ref> The expressed views of Paul VI reflected the teachings of his predecessors, especially [[Pius XI]],<ref>Pius XI, encyc.letter Divini illius Magistri: AAS 22 (1930), 58–61; encyc. letter Casti connubii: AAS 22 (1930), 545–546</ref> [[Pius XII]]<ref>Discorsi e radiomessaggi di Pio XII, VI, 191–192; to Italian Association of Catholic Midwives: AAS 43 (1951), 835–854</ref> and [[Pope John XXIII|John XXIII]].<ref>John XXIII, encyc. letter ''Mater et magistra'': AAS 53 (1961), 457.</ref>

The encyclical teaches that marriage constitutes a union of the loving couple with a loving God, in which the two persons cooperate with God in the creation of a new person. For this reason, the encyclicals that the transmission of human life is a most serious role in which married people collaborate freely and responsibly with God.<ref name="Humanae vitae, 1">{{Citation|title=Humanae vitae|at=1}}</ref> This divine partnership, according to Paul VI, does not allow for arbitrary human decisions, which may limit divine providence. The Pope does not paint an overly romantic picture of marriage: marital relations are a source of great joy, but also of difficulties and hardships.<ref name="Humanae vitae, 1" /> The question of human procreation exceeds in the view of Paul VI specific disciplines such as [[biology]], [[psychology]], [[demography]] or [[sociology]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Humanae vitae|at=7}}</ref> The reason for this, according to Paul VI, is that married love takes its origin from God, who "is love". From this basic dignity, he defines his position:
{{blockquote |Love is total—that very special form of personal friendship in which husband and wife generously share everything, allowing no unreasonable exceptions and not thinking solely of their own convenience. Whoever really loves his partner loves not only for what he receives, but loves that partner for the partner's own sake, content to be able to enrich the other with the gift of himself.<ref>{{Citation | title = Humanae vitae | at = 8–9}}.</ref>}}

The reaction to the continued prohibitions of artificial birth control was mixed. The encyclical was welcomed in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Poland.<ref>{{Citation | title = Herder Korrespondenz Orbis Catholicus | year = 1968}}.</ref> In Latin America, much support developed for the Pope and his encyclical. As [[World Bank]] president [[Robert McNamara]] declared at the 1968 [[Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group|Annual Meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group]] that countries permitting birth control practices would get preferential access to resources, doctors in [[La Paz]], Bolivia, called it insulting that money should be exchanged for the conscience of a Catholic nation. In Colombia, Cardinal Archbishop [[Aníbal Muñoz Duque]] declared, "If American conditionality undermines Papal teachings, we prefer not to receive one cent."<ref name="Herder 549">{{Citation|title=Herder Korrespondenz|publisher=Orbis Catholicus|place= Freiburg|year=1968|at=HK 1968 549}}</ref> The [[Chamber of Senators (Bolivia)|Senate of Bolivia]] passed a resolution stating that ''Humanae vitae'' could be discussed in its implications for individual consciences but was of greatest significance because the papal document defended the rights of developing nations to determine their own population policies.<ref name="Herder 549" /> The [[Jesuit]] journal ''Sic'' dedicated one edition to the encyclical with supportive contributions.<ref>{{Citation|title=Sic |volume=31|issue=308|date=October 1968|pages=359–79}}</ref>

Paul VI was concerned but not surprised by the adverse reaction in Western Europe and the United States. He fully anticipated this reaction to be a temporary one: "Don't be afraid," he reportedly told [[Edouard Gagnon]] on the eve of the encyclical, "in twenty years' time, they'll call me a prophet."<ref>{{Citation|title=National Catholic Reporter| date=26 August 1988|page=10}}</ref> His biography on the Vatican's website notes his reaffirmations of priestly celibacy and the traditional teaching on contraception that "[t]he controversies over these two pronouncements tended to overshadow the last years of his pontificate".<ref>{{Citation|publisher=Vatican|place=Rome, IT|contribution-url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/biography/documents/hf_p-vi_bio_16071997_biography_en.html|contribution=Biography|title=Pope Paul VI: 1963–1978|access-date=2 March 2006|archive-date=9 February 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209065234/http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/biography/documents/hf_p-vi_bio_16071997_biography_en.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Pope John Paul II]] later reaffirmed and expanded upon ''Humanae vitae'' with the encyclical ''[[Evangelium vitae]]''.