Amoris Laetitia (“The Joy of Love”) is the post synodal Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Francis released in 2016 as the outcome of two synods on the family, the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in 2014 and the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in 2015. An apostolic exhortation, as opposed to an encyclical, is a “pastoral document” in which the Pope strongly encourages the Church. Although it contains doctrine, as seen in an encyclical, its primary focus is pastoral care. It is a strong encouragement particularly to Christian families.