Evangelii Nuntiandi is an apostolic exhortation

Apostolic exhortation

An apostolic exhortation is a type of communication from the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. It encourages a community of people to undertake a particular activity, but does not define Church doctrine...

 issued on 8 December 1975 by Pope Paul VI

Pope Paul VI

Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...

 following the work of the synod

Synod

A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...

 on the theme (of 7 September 1974 to 26 October 1980). It deals with evangelism

Evangelism

Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....

, and affirms the role of every Christian (and not only ordained priests) in spreading the Catholic religion.

It derives its name from the first words of the text: Evangelii nuntiandi studium nostrae aetatis hominibus (The effort to proclaim the Gospel to the men of our time).

This apostolic exhortation missionary gave a new impetus to the Catholic Church, and inspired teaching of John Paul II (who participated heavily in its drafting).