Only love will save humanity

Nov 01, 2024

VATICAN: Pope Francis has called on a world that has become “heartless” and indifferent to war and greed, and a Church in need of revitalising its missionary joy, to open themselves to Christ’s infinite love. Through devotion to Jesus’ Sacred Heart, he invites the faithful to be filled with the “living water” that heals wounds, strengthens love for others, and inspires a collective journey toward a just, fraternal world.

The Pope made this appeal in his latest encyclical, Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us), which was released by the Vatican on October 24. This 28,000-word text, his fourth encyclical, focuses on the human and divine love of Jesus’ Sacred Heart. Though it stands on its own, Pope Francis encourages readers to understand it alongside his earlier encyclicals, Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti. He explains that these texts, which address care for creation and global fraternity, are deeply rooted in an encounter with the love of Jesus Christ.

Pope Francis first announced his intention to write on the Sacred Heart in June, explaining that it would illuminate the path for ecclesial renewal while offering a significant message to a world that seems to have "lost its heart." In his encyclical, the Pope emphasises that contemplating the Sacred Heart can reignite the Church’s missionary zeal and inspire the faithful to embody Christ’s love in a world plagued by division and apathy.

The Pope reflects on how deeply human beings yearn to love and be loved. Yet, in a world increasingly marked by conflict, power struggles, and partisan interests, it can feel like humanity is losing its heart. He shares his sorrow over the sight of elderly women enduring the horrors of war, when they should be enjoying their twilight years. Their suffering, he writes, is a sign of a heartless world that has forgotten how to weep.

Central to the encyclical is the idea that humanity is more than just reason and intelligence. Pope Francis highlights the emotional, spiritual, and creative dimensions of human beings that are often neglected or undervalued. He points to the simple, everyday treasures that animate the human heart — like childhood memories of helping family members bake or sharing a joke with loved ones — as sources of profound joy that no algorithm or artificial intelligence can replicate. It is poetry, love, and the heart, he argues, that are necessary to save our humanity.

In a press conference presenting the document, Archbishop Bruno Forte of Chieti-Vasto described Dilexit Nos as a “compendium” of Pope Francis’ entire pontificate. Many critics have said the Pope focuses too much on social issues, but this encyclical underscores the theological and spiritual foundation that has driven his leadership over the past 12 years: that everything springs from Christ’s love for humanity.

Pope Francis draws inspiration from centuries of devotion to the Sacred Heart, including the writings of saints like St Ignatius of Loyola and his own religious order, the Society of Jesus. He invites Catholics to enter into the heart of Christ, to expand their own hearts, and to deepen their understanding of the Gospel’s message. Christ’s heart, aflame with infinite love, calls for love in return, especially through service to the most marginalised in society. This love compels us to recognise the dignity of every person, particularly those considered “unworthy.”

The Pope insists that the heart of Christ leads us to rebuild a civilisation of love, even amid the devastation caused by sin and evil. He encourages Catholics to embrace the practices connected with devotion to the Sacred Heart, especially Eucharistic adoration and the tradition of receiving the Eucharist on the first Friday of each month. These practices, he says, can help counter the frenetic pace of modern life, offering a source of nourishment and strength.

In this latest encyclical, Pope Francis reminds the Church and the world that mission requires hearts that are “enthralled by Christ,” unafraid to prioritise love over mere rules or structural reforms. Rediscovering the Sacred Heart, he writes, can rekindle the joy, beauty, and deep sense of meaning that come from knowing and loving Christ. --Agencies