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Papal Decretals |
The term decretal, epistola decretalis, littera decretalis is used to describe a papal ruling, especially on ruling on ecclesiastical discipline, or a rescript (rescriptum) in response to an appeal. A decretal may be distinguished from a privilege. | The first known papal decretal
was issued by Pope Siricius in 385.
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| Decretals were collected into
collections and placed on an equal footing with conciliar canons ca. 500.
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Pope Innocent III |
First Latin Collections of Canon Law |