decretal
/dɪˈkriːtəl/
noun
- A papal decree or official letter concerning a point of canon law.
- The historian studied a collection of medieval decretals from the Vatican archives.
- The pope's decretal clarified the rules for church marriages.
- Many decretals were compiled into a single volume for reference by church officials.
Synonyms
adjective
- Relating to or having the nature of a decree (an official order or decision).
- The king issued a decretal letter that changed the laws of the land.
- The council's decretal authority was recognized by all member states.
- The decretal document outlined the new policies for the organization.