What is a pastoral letter?

Bishops are first and foremost pastors. Their primary duty is to shepherd the faithful toward a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. One of the primary ways in which they do this is by writing letters on some aspect of the faith. Just as the Holy Father writes letters to the bishops, clergy and faithful of the worldwide Church, a local bishop periodically writes letters to his priests and to the faithful of his diocese.

In the Archdiocese of Detroit, Archbishop Vigneron released Unleash the Gospel following our archdiocesan Synod 16 on the New Evangelization.