My friend Meggan writes with a question:

Often, in the newspaper or from friends, I hear the word "edict" being thrown around every time the Pope makes a speech or issues a document or letter.  The last time someone said it to me was Sunday when my friend said something about "When the Pope issued that edict about priests cleaning the communion vessels."  Oy!!

I always try to help my friends or the folks in classes at church understand the Church’s communications. I try to correct their misconceptions.

But this word "edict" puzzles me.  I understand exhortations, encyclicals, letters, motu proprio, etc.  But, I can’t find the word "edict" being used officially in the Church.

Is there such a thing as a "Papal Edict"?  Is edict just a word to describe some of these other documents?   If so, which documents can be called "edicts"?