Letter #82, 2025, Tuesday, November 25: “One flesh,” #5
The Vatican today issued a document on the sacral character of marriage entitled Una caro [“One flesh”]. In Praise of Monogamy.
In my last letter, I sent the 3rd and final part of the full text in English.
Here below, the 256 footnotes to the entire text.
—RM
DICASTERIUM PRO DOCTRINA FIDEI
UNA CARO
In praise of monogamy
Doctrinal note
on the value of marriage as an exclusive union
and mutual belonging
[Presentation and Paragraphs 1 to 156 in the previous emails. Here below, after the end of the main text, the date of its approval by the Pope, November 19, is given, followed by the first 150 of the 256 footnotes]
The Supreme Pontiff Leo XIV, in the Audience granted to the undersigned Prefect together with the Secretary for the Doctrinal Section of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, on 21 November 2025, Liturgical Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, approved this Note, deliberated in the Ordinary Session of this Dicastery on 19 November 2025, and ordered its publication.
Given in Rome, at the seat of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, on 25 November 2025.
Víctor Manuel Card. Fernández
Prefect
Monsignor Armando Matteo
Secretary
for the Doctrinal Section
Ex Audientia Die 21 novembris 2025
LEO PP XIV
***
Footnotes
[1] Francis , General Audience (23 October 2024): L’Osservatore Romano (23 October 2024), 2.
[2] John Paul II , Homily at the Mass for Families in Kinshasa (3 May 1980), n. 2: AAS 72 (1980), 425.
[3] The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has undertaken to draft a report for the Synod of Bishops on the challenges of polygamy. While awaiting this document, it seems appropriate to note that, according to a common opinion, monogamous marriage in Africa should be considered an exceptional fact, given the widespread practice of polygamy in those regions. However, in-depth studies on African cultures show that the different traditions attribute special importance to the first marriage between a man and a woman and, above all, to the role that the first wife is called to play in relation to the other wives. Indeed, research indicates rather that polygamy is a practice tolerated because of the necessities of life (absence of children, levirate, labor for survival, etc.). Many traditions in fact promote the monogamous model as the ideal of marriage that corresponds to divine plans. The first wife, regularly married according to traditional customs, is often presented as the one given to the man by God, although the latter may adopt other women. In the case of polygamy, the first wife is accorded a special place in performing sacred funeral rites or in raising children born to other women in the family. It is interesting to note that, in recent decades, in some states, the civil legislator has established monogamy as an ordinary marital regime (cf. Société Africaine de Culture, Les religions africaines comme source de valeurs de civilisation. Colloque de Cotonou, 16-22 août 1970 , Présence Africaine, Paris 1972; Isidore de Souza, «Mariage et famille», in Revue de l’Institut Catholique de l’Afrique de l’Ouest 5-6 [1993], 164; Id., «Notion et réalité de la famille en Afrique et dans la Bible», in Savanes Forêts 30 [1984], 145-146).
[4] Can. 1056 CIC (italics added). Cf. can. 776, § 3 CCEO .
[5] Can. 1134 CIC (italics added). Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1638.
[6] The Supplement to the Summa Theologiae (Suppl., q. 44, a. 3) affirms the definition of marriage given by Pietro Lombardo in Id., Sent . IV, d. 27, c. 2 (164): « Sunt igitur nuptiae vel matrimonium viri mulierisque coniunctio maritalis, inter legitimas personas, individuam vitae consuetudinem retinens ».
[7] Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Suppl., q. 44, a. 1, resp. (emphasis added).
[8] Justinian, Institutiones, I, 9, 1: Justinian’s Institutes, P. Krueger (ed.), Cornell University Press, Ithaca (NY) 1987, 4.
[9] D. von Hildebrand, The Encyclical Humanae Vitae: A Sign of Contradiction, Paoline, Rome, 1968, 43.
[10] John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris consortio (22 November 1981), n. 19: AAS 74 (1982) 101-102 (italics added).
[11] Augustine, In Ioannis Evangelium , tract. XXVI, 4 (” Daamantem, et sentit quod dico “): PL 35, 1608.
[12] Paul VI , Discours aux Foyers des Équipes Notre-Dame (4 May 1970), n. 6: AAS 62 (1970) 430.
[13] Benedict XVI , Meeting with the young people of the diocese of Rome in preparation for the XXI World Youth Day (6 April 2006), n. 2: AAS 98 (2006), 351. Cf. John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris consortio (22 November 1981), n. 68: AAS 74 (1982), 163-165.
[14] John Paul II , General Audience (13 August 1980), n. 2: Insegnamenti III, 2 (1980), 397.
[15] Cf. Pontifical Biblical Commission, What is man? (Ps 8:5). An itinerary of biblical anthropology (30 September 2019), n. 173: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City 2019, 148-149.
[16] Francis, Exhortation. ap. Amoris laetitia (19 March 2016), n. 12: AAS 108 (2016), 315-316.
[17] Benedict XVI, Encyclical letter. Deus caritas est (25 December 2005), n. 11: AAS 98 (2006), 226-227.
[18] Francis, Exhortation. ap. Amoris laetitia (19 March 2016), n. 13: AAS 108 (2016), 316.
[19] John Paul II, General Audience (27 August 1980), n. 4: Insegnamenti III, 2 (1980), 454.
[20] Benedict XVI, Address on the Occasion of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Foundation of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family (11 May 2006): Insegnamenti II, 1 (2006), 579. Cf. Id., Encyclical Letter Deus caritas est (25 December 2005), n. 11: AAS 98 (2006), 226-227.
[21] Cf. Vatican Ecumenical Council II, Past. Gaudium et spes (7 December 1965), n. 48: AAS 58 (1966), 1067; Francis, Exhortation. ap. Amoris laetitia (19 March 2016), n. 67: AAS 108 (2016), 338.
[22] In Greek: «Τίμιος ὁ γάμος ἐν πᾶσιν καὶ ἡ κοίτη ἀμίαντος» ( Heb 13.4).
[23] John Chrysostom, De virginitate, 19: PG 48, 547.
[24] Augustine, De Genesi ad litteram, IX, chap. 7, n. 12: PL 34, 397.
[25] Id., De bono conjugali , 1, 1: PL 40, 373.
[26] Tertullian, Ad uxorem, II, 8, 6-7: CCSL 1, 393, as cited in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1642 (cf. PL 1, 1302A-B). It is noted in the margin that Tertullian treated the theme of monogamy in a specific work: De monogamia (PL 2, 929-954). Furthermore, another Father who directly addressed the subject is Jerome. Cf. Epistula 123, ad Geruchiam de monogamia (PL 22, 1046-1059).
[27] Ambrose, Expositio Evangelii secundum Lucam , VIII, 7: PL 15, 1767.
[28] John Chrysostom, Commentarium in Matthaeum , hom. 62, 2: PG 58, 597.
[29] Lactantius, Divinae institutiones, VI, 23: PL 6, 720.
[30] Cf. Pius XII , Encyclical Letter. Mystici Corporis Christi (29 June 1943), « Matrimonio enim, quo spouses sibi invicem sunt ministeri gratiae, externo Christianae consortionis providetur ordinateque increment »: AAS 35 (1943), 202.
[31] John Chrysostom, Homiliae in Epistolam I ad Timotheum. , hom. 9, cap. II: PG 62, 546. The International Theological Commission has tried to welcome the view of the Christian East by explaining that it is necessary to avoid that the value of the consent of the spouses «makes the sacrament a pure and sole emanation of their love. The sacrament as such belongs totally to the mystery of the Church into which they are introduced, in a privileged way, by their conjugal love» ( International Theological Commission , The Catholic Doctrine on the Sacrament of Matrimony [1977], B. The “sixteen Christological Theses” of Gustave Marthelet, SI, approved “in generic form” by the International Theological Commission, thesis 10).
[32] Clement of Alexandria, Stromata III, 12: PG 8, 1185B, which cites Rm 7,12.
[33] John Chrysostom, Quales ducendae sint uxores, 3: PG 51, 230 (emphasis added).
[34] Gregory Nazianzen, Oration 37, 7: PG 36, 291.
[35] Bonaventure, Breviloquium , VI, 13, 3, trans. edited by M. Aprea, in Opuscoli teologici/2. Breviloquio , Works of St. Bonaventure 5/2, Città Nuova, Rome 1996, 293-295.
[36] AM de’ Liguori, Theologia moralis (Editio nova Leonardi Gaudé), Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis, Rome 1912, lib. VI, tract. VI, chapter. II, dub. I, n. 882.
[37] Cf. Ibid. , n. 882: «On the other hand, there can be many extrinsic accidental ends, such as the achievement of peace, the pursuit of pleasure, etc.».
[38] Ibid. , n. 883.
[39] Cf. D. von Hildebrand, Marriage, tr. edited by B. Magnino, Morcelliana, Brescia 1959.
[40] Id., Metaphysik der Gemeinschaft. Untersuchungen über Wesen und Wert der Gemeinschaft , Kirche und Gesellschaft 1, Haas & Grabherr, Augsburg 1930, 40.
[41] Ibid. , 45.
[42] A. von Hildebrand, Man and Woman: A Divine Invention, Sapientia Press, Ave Maria (FL) 2010, xiii.
[43] Ibid ., 58.
[44] Ibid ., 10.
[45] Ibid ., 135-136.
[46] Cf. Francis, Exhortation. ap. Amoris laetitia (19 March 2016), n. 181: AAS 108 (2016), 383.
[47] HU von Balthasar, «Pneuma and Institution», in Spirit and Institution. Theological Essays IV , Jaca Book, Milan 2019, 232.
[48] Ibid. , 236-237.
[49] HU von Balthasar, The States of Life of the Christian, Jaca Book, Milan 2017 3 , 202-203.
[50] Id., «Pneuma and institution», op. cit. , 234.
[51] K. Rahner, Schriften zur Theologie , Band VIII, Benzinger, Einsiedeln–Zürich–Köln 1967, 539.
[52] Cf. Id., On Marriage, trans. edited by G. Ruggieri, Theological Meditations 6, Queriniana, Brescia 1966, 10.
[53] Ibid.
[54] Id., Church and Sacraments, trans. edited by A. Bellini, Morcelliana, Brescia 1969 3 , 106.
[55] A. Schmemann, For the Life of the World. Sacraments and Orthodoxy, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood (NY) 1998 2, 90-91.
[56] PN Evdokimov, Marriage, the sacrament of love, tr. edited by L. Marino, Oriental spirituality, Magnano 2008, 165. (Italian edition of Id., Le mariage, sacrement de l’amour , Editions du Livre Français, Lyon 1944.)
[57] J. Meyendorff, Marriage, An Orthodox Perspective, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood (NY) 2000 3, 16.
[58] I. Zizioulas, Communion and Otherness, trans. edited by M. Campatelli – G. Cesareo, Lipi, Rome 2016, 11.
[59] C. Yannaras, The Freedom of Ethos, edited by B. Petrà, Sequela oggi, Qiqajon, Magnano (BI) 2015, 164ff.
[60] Ibid.
[61] Innocent III, Lett. Gaudemus in Domino (1201): DH 778.
[62] Cf. Ibid .: DH 779.
[63] Second Council of Lyons, Session IV (6 July 1274), Profession of Faith of Emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus: DH 860.
[64] Cf. Council of Trent, Session XXIV (11 November 1563), Doctrine on the Sacrament of Matrimony: DH 1798.
[65] Benedict XIV, Declaration Matrimonia quae in locis (4 November 1741), n. 2: DH 2517.
[66] Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter. Arcanum divinae Sapientiae (10 February 1880): ASS 12 (1879), 386-387 (emphasis added).
[67] Ibid. , 387.
[68] Ibid. , 389.
[69] Ibid. , 394.
[70] Pius XI, Encyclical Letter. Casti connubii (31 December 1930): AAS 22 (1930), 546.
[71] Ibid . , AAS 22 (1930), 547-548 (italics added); cf. Augustine, De bono coniugali 24, 32: PL 40, 394D.
[72] Pius XI, Encyclical Letter Casti connubii (31 December 1930): AAS 22 (1930), 548 (italics added).
[73] Ibid . : AAS 22 (1930), 566.
[74] Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Past. Gaudium et spes (7 December 1965), n. 48: AAS 58 (1966), 1067.
[75] Ibid . , n. 48: AAS 58 (1966), 1068 (italics added).
[76] Ibid .
[77] Ibid . , n. 49: AAS 58 (1966), 1070.
[78] Ibid .
[79] Ibid .
[80] Ibid .
[81] This same argument was taken up by Saint John Paul II when he explained that polygamy «is contrary to the equal personal dignity of man and woman, who in marriage give themselves with a love that is total and therefore unique and exclusive» ( John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris consortio [22 November 1980], n. 19: AAS 74 [1982], 102; cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes [7 December 1965], n. 47: AAS 58 [1966], 1067).
[82] Paul VI , Encyclical Letter Humanae vitae (25 July 1968), n. 12: AAS 60 (1968), 488-489 (italics added).
[83] See ibid . , n. 8: AAS 60 (1968), 485-486.
[84] Ibid . , n. 12: AAS 60 (1968), 489.
[85] John Paul II, Exhortation. ap. Familiaris consortio (22 November 1981), n. 11: AAS 74 (1982), 92.
[86] Cf. Id., General Audience (2 January 1980): Insegnamenti III, 1 (1980), 11-15; Id., General Audience (9 January 1980): Insegnamenti III, 1 (1980), 88-92; Id., General Audience (16 January 1980): Insegnamenti III, 1 (1980), 148-152.
[87] Cf. Vatican Ecumenical Council II , Past. Gaudium et spes (7 December 1965), n. 24: AAS 58 (1966), 1045.
[88] John Paul II , Homily at the Mass for Families in Kinshasa (3 May 1980), n. 2: AAS 72 (1980), 425.
[89] John Paul II , General Audience (13 August 1980), nn. 3-4: Insegnamenti III, 2 (1980), 398-399.
[90] Cf. Id., General Audience (20 August 1980): Insegnamenti III, 2 (1980), 415-419.
[91] Id., Homily at the Mass for Families in Kinshasa (3 May 1980), n. 2: AAS 72 (1980), 425.
[92] Id., General Audience (27 August 1980), nn. 1, 4: Insegnamenti III, 2 (1980), 451, 453-454.
[93] Id., General Audience (24 September 1980), n. 5: Insegnamenti III, 2 (1980), 719-720.
[94] Id., Exhortation. ap. Familiaris consortio (22 November 1981), n. 19: AAS 74 (1982), 102.
[95] Benedict XVI , Encyclical letter. Deus caritas est (25 December 2005), n. 11: AAS 98 (2006), 227.
[96] Ibid . , n. 6: AAS 98 (2006), 222.
[97] Francis , Exhortation. ap. Amoris laetitia (19 March 2016), n. 92: AAS 108 (2016), 348.
[98] Ibid ., n. 93: AAS 108 (2016), 348.
[99] Ibid ., n. 99: AAS 108 (2016), 350.
[100] Ibid ., n. 100: AAS 108 (2016), 351.
[101] Cf. Ibid ., nn. 101-102: AAS 108 (2016), 351-352.
[102] Ibid ., n. 103: AAS 108 (2016), 352.
[103] Ibid ., n. 108: AAS 108 (2016), 354.
[104] Ibid ., n. 110: AAS 108 (2016), 354.
[105] Ibid ., n. 115: AAS 108 (2016), 356.
[106] Ibid ., n. 116: AAS 108 (2016), 356.
[107] Ibid ., n. 122: AAS 108 (2016), 359, quoting John Paul II , Exhortation. ap. Familiaris consortio (22 November 1981), 9: AAS 74 (1982), 90.
[108] Francis , Exhortation. ap. Amoris laetitia (19 March 2016), n. 130: AAS 108 (2016), 362.
[109] Cf. Leo XIV , Message on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the canonization of the parents of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (18 October 2025): L’osservatore Romano (18 October 2025), 5.
[110] Cf. Augustine, Enarrationes in Psalmos 127, 3: PL 37, 1679: « non ille unus et nos multi, sed et nos multi in illo uno unum ».
[111] Leo XIV , Homily for the Jubilee Mass for Families, Grandparents and the Elderly (1 June 2025): L’Osservatore Romano (2 June 2025), 2; quoting Paul VI , Encyclical Letter Humanae vitae (25 July 1968), n. 9: AAS 60 (1968), 486-487.
[112] Can. 1055, § 1 CIC (italics added). Cf. can. 776, § 1-2 CCEO .
[113] Catechism of the Catholic Church , n. 1645.
[114] Ibid . , n. 1646.
[115] Ibid . , n. 2381.
[116] Ibid . , n. 2387.
[117] Thomas Aquinas, Summa contra Gentiles , III, chap. 123, n. 4.
[118] Cf. Id., Summa Theologiae , I, q. 92, a. 3, resp .; cf. Id., Summa contra Gentiles , III, chap. 123, n. 4.
[119] Id., Summa contra Gentiles , III, chap. 124, n. 1.
[120] Ibid. , chap. 123, nos. 3-4.
[121] Ibid. , chap. 124, nos. 3-5; who quotes Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics , VIII, c. 5, no. 5; ibid. , VIII, c. 6, no. 2.
[122] Thomas Aquinas, Summa contra Gentiles , III, chap. 123, n. 6 (italics added).
[123] A.-D. Sertillanges, Christian love , IPL, Milan 1947, 87.
[124] Ibid. , 79.
[125] Ibid. , 91.
[126] Ibid. , 92.
[127] Ibid. , 94.
[128] S. Kierkegaard, «The Aesthetic Validity of Marriage», in Enten-Eller. A Fragment of Life , IV, edited by A. Cortese, Piccola Biblioteca Adelphi 120, Adelphi, Milan 1981 4 , 154. (NB from Enten-Eller , II, in the original Danish text.)
[129] Ibid. , 153-154.
[130] S. Kierkegaard, «The Balance between the Aesthetic and the Ethical in the Development of Personality», Enten-Eller. A Fragment of Life , V, edited by A. Cortese, Piccola Biblioteca Adelphi 232, Adelphi, Milan 1989, 207. (NB from Enten-Eller , II, in the original Danish text.)
[131] S. Kierkegaard, «Aesthetic validity of marriage», op. cit. , 92.
[132] Ibid ., 39.
[133] Ibid ., 40.
[134] Ibid ., 86.
[135] E. Mounier, Manifesto at the service of community personalism , trans. edited by A. Lamacchia, Ecumenica, Cassano (BA) 1975, 66.
[136] Cf. ibid ., 82.
[137] Ibid ., 130.
[138] Ibid. , 131.
[139] J. Lacroix, Force et faiblesses de la famille , Éditions du Seuil, Paris 1948, 56.
[140] Ibid. , 54.
[141] Ibid. , 58.
[142] Ibid. , 58.
[143] Ibid. , 61-62.
[144] Ibid. , 55.
[145] Cf. E. Lévinas, Totality and Infinity. An Essay on Exteriority , edited by A. Dell’Asta, In Front and Through 92, Jaca Book, Milan 2006, 191-253.
[146] Ibid. , 265.
[147] K. Wojtyła, Love and Responsibility , trans. edited by A. Milanoli, Marietti, Genoa–Milan 1980, 161.
[148] Cf. Ibid.
[149] Ibid. , 155.
[150] Ibid.
(Note: The above contains the first 150 footnotes of the document; the last 106 footnotes will come in the next and final email…)
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