On Thursday, 24 October, Pope Francis will publish his fourth encyclical of his pontificate focusing on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in the context of a world “which seems to have lost its heart.”
Titled Dilexit Nos, meaning “he has loved us” is described by Pope Francis as a document that “brings together the precious reflections of previous magisterial texts and a long history that goes back to the sacred Scriptures in order to re-propose today to the whole Church this devotion imbued with spiritual beauty.”
On 5 June, speaking at the end of his general audience, Pope Francis said, “I believe it will do us great good to meditate on various aspects of the Lord’s love, which can illuminate the path of ecclesial renewal and say something meaningful to a world that seems to have lost its heart.”
With this document, Pope Francis will call for a change of perspective, urging humanity to rediscover what is most essential: the heart. He also noted that the encyclical would incorporate reflections from previous magisterial teachings and the rich tradition of Scripture, reintroducing the Church to this spiritually profound devotion.
The encyclical’s release coincides with ongoing celebrations commemorating the 350th anniversary of the first appearance of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673, when Jesus appeared to the young 26-year-old French Visitation nun, entrusting her with the mission of spreading His love, particularly toward sinners. These apparitions, which took place at the convent of Paray-le-Monial in Burgundy, continued for 17 years.
The Vatican will hold a livestreamed press conference on Thursday, 24 October on the encyclical: “Dilexit Nos: Encyclical Letter on the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ.”
Dilexit Nos will be Pope Francis’ fourth encyclical following Lumen Fidei, published in 2013, Laudato Si’ published in 2015 and Fratelli Tutti, published in 2020.
Source: www.vatican.va
