"Before the end of this year" new date for Pope's 3rd Encyclical

The skinny:

Pope Benedict XVI’s social encyclical is very much alive and is expected to be published before the end of the year, Cardinal Renato Martino told reporters Wednesday.

“The project exists, and at this point it’s certain. We hope the pope can publish it before the end of the year,” Cardinal Martino said at a Vatican press conference.

Sources earlier this year said the encyclical was provisionally titled, “Caritas in Veritate” (”Charity in Truth,”) and was expected to touch on issues related to social justice and globalization. The encyclical has reportedly been undergoing some revisions, and there was a rumor floating around recently that it wouldn’t be out until next spring. (CNS Blog)

Earlier rumored target dates had ranged from "last month" all the way up to "April of next year."

End of this year sounds entirely reasonable, but then again, I haven't written many encyclicals.

In the meantime, you can still pre-order it.