Appendix
Writings by various popes on specific doctrinal and moral issues are included in the Catechism. They include encyclicals, apostolic letters, apostolic exhortations, discourses, and briefs, among others. More ancient papal documents cited in the Catechism are usually referenced by their DS numbers, while more recent documents are referenced by an abbreviation and paragraph number. See the Index of Citations under “Pontifical Documents” for a list of these documents cited in the Catechism. Writings of the following popes are cited. Dates given here indicate the years each pope held office.
Timeline of Popes with Writings Referenced in the Catechism
4th Century
Damasus I (366-384)
5th Century
Innocent I (402-417)
Leo I the Great (440-461)
Anastasius II (496-498)
6th Century
Hormisdas (514-523)
Vigilius (537-555)
Pelagius I (556-561)
7th Century
Gregory the Great (590-604)
9th Century
Nicholas I (858-867)
13th Century
Innocent III (1198-1216)
14th Century
John XXII (1316-1334)
Benedict XII (1334-1342)
Clement VI (1342-1352)
16th Century
Pius IV (1559-1565)
18th Century
Pius VI (1775-1799)
19th Century
Pius IX (1846-1878)
20th Century
Leo XIII (1878-1903)
Pius XI (1922-1939)
Pius XII (1939-1958)
John XXIII (1958-1963)
Paul VI (1963-1978)
21st Century
John Paul II (1978-2005)
Francis (2013-present)