Editing Pope Paul VI (section)

=====''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.