«Dilexit nos», the fourth Encyclical of Pope Francis, calls us to keep in mind the tenderness of faith, the joy of service, and the fervor of mission. All of this, thanks to the Heart of Jesus that urges us to love.

On October 24th, the Holy See published «Dilexit nos» («He loved us»), Pope Francis’s fourth Encyclical dedicated to the human and divine love of the Heart of Jesus Christ:

«His open heart goes before us and awaits us unconditionally, without demanding any prerequisites to love us and offer us His friendship: He loved us first (cf. 1 Jn 4:10). Thanks to Jesus, ‘we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us’ (1 Jn 4:16).»

According to Vatican Media, in the new encyclical Pope Francis “proposes a new reflection on the love of Christ represented in His Heart. He calls for a renewal of the ‘authentic devotion’ to the Sacred Heart, reminding us that in the Heart of Christ ‘we find the entire Gospel’ (89). It is in His Heart where ‘we truly come to know ourselves and learn to love’ (30).”

The encyclical consists of five chapters, focusing on the importance of the human heart, actions and words of love, the Heart [of Jesus] that has loved so much, a love that gives itself as drink, and a love that responds to love. It explores the profound love and devotion to the Sacred Heart that has been promoted through the centuries by a litany of saints, including Saint Augustine, Saint Bonaventure, Saint Claude de la Colombière, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Saint John Henry Newman, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Faustina Kowalska, Pope Saint John Paul II, among others.

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