The 142-page document entitled “Dilexit nos” (He loved us) is Pope Francis’ fourth encyclical during his 11-year pontificate. In this writing, the Holy Father encourages the faithful to strengthen their religious life in an age that he calls the “age of superficiality”.
The central message of the encyclical is that Catholics and other Christians must rediscover the importance of the heart. Pope Francis takes a critical look at the value system of modern society, in which people’s sense of value increasingly depends on what they can accumulate with the power of money.
Christ’s love has no place in this perverse mechanism, yet only this love can free us from the mad chase, in which free love no longer has a place
– says the pope in the encyclical, who rejects greed and the accumulation of wealth.
The document focuses primarily on spiritual themes and does not call for specific political action, unlike previous papal writings. For example, the 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si” drew attention to environmental protection, while the 2020 “Fratelli Tutti” called for a rethinking of economic policies following the coronavirus epidemic.
The new encyclical offers reflections on a Catholic spiritual practice popularized by a 17th-century French nun, Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque.
The Pope emphasizes that Christians must follow the love of Jesus by caring for the needy.
The publication of the papal document coincides with a month-long summit of Catholic leaders in the Vatican. Interestingly, controversial issues originally planned for the meeting, such as the possibility of ordaining women as Catholic priests, were postponed.
Source: Reuters
Cover image source: Shutterstock
Source: www.portfolio.hu
