Qui pluribus (subtitles "On Faith And Religion") is an encyclical promulgated by Pope Pius IX on November 9 1846. It was the first encyclical of his reign, and written to urge the prelates to be on guard against the dangers posed by rationalism, pantheism, Communism and other popular heresies.
Pius IX was elected to the papacy in June 1846. The following November, he addressed this encyclical to "All Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, and Bishops", exhorting them to be vigilant against the dangers of rationalism, pantheism, Communism, and modernity. "Therefore, since We have now assumed the supreme pontificate..., We are sending this letter to you without delay, in accordance with the established practice of Our predecessors. Its purpose is to urge that you keep the night-watches over the flock entrusted to your care with the greatest possible eagerness, wakefulness and effort..."[1]
"Qui pluribus" contains the first mention of Communism in any papal encyclopedia. Pius described Communism as "...a doctrine most opposed to the very natural law. For if this doctrine were accepted, the complete destruction of everyone’s laws, government, property, and even of human society itself would follow."[2]
It singled out the free gift of anti-Catholic Bibles. Its coupling of political liberalism and religious indifferentism is seen as a condemnation of the Italian Carbonari in particular and Freemasonry in general but it did not mention Freemasonry directly.[3]
Its opposition to religious pluralism was similar to previous encyclicals, most especially Mirari vos, issued by Pope Gregory XVI. Some have argued that the condemnations were softened somewhat by the declaration of the Second Vatican Council Dignitatis humanae, but others see no change.
The Catholic Church's prohibition of membership in Masonic organizations is considered to be still in force. However, canon law does not state so directly, but its abstract implies so.[citation needed]