Pope Francis is set to publish a new encyclical titled "Dilexit Nos" (He Loved Us) this Thursday, calling for a return to the heart of human and divine love in a world that "seems to have lost its heart." This will be Pope Francis' fourth encyclical, coming at a time of intense global upheaval marked by war, economic imbalances, and technological threats to human nature.
The full title, "Dilexit Nos – Encyclical Letter on the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ," was confirmed by the Vatican Press Office. The document’s release will coincide with the 350th anniversary of the first apparitions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673, a devotion deeply embedded in the Church's spiritual tradition.
Pope Francis first announced his intention to write the encyclical at his June 5 general audience, highlighting his hope that it would inspire deep reflection on the love of Christ and guide ecclesial renewal. He expressed concern that contemporary society has "lost its heart," calling for a renewed focus on the heart's essential role in guiding human lives and relationships.
The encyclical will draw on the teachings of previous popes, particularly Pope Pius XII's 1956 encyclical "Haurietis Aquas", which urged a revival of devotion to the Sacred Heart, and Pope Benedict XVI's reflections on the centrality of Christ's love for humanity.
The timing of the encyclical aligns with ongoing celebrations commemorating the apparitions of the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun from France, to whom Christ revealed His heart as a symbol of divine love and mercy. These apparitions emphasized the importance of devotion to the Sacred Heart as a source of spiritual renewal, a theme which Pope Francis hopes to echo in today’s world.
Pope Francis has long been devoted to the Sacred Heart, frequently linking it to the mission of priests. He concluded the Jubilee of Priests in 2016 on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, emphasizing that mercy, represented by Christ’s heart, is central to the mission of the Church.
"Dilexit Nos" follows in the footsteps of Pope Francis' previous encyclicals. His first, "Lumen Fidei" (2013), co-authored with Pope Benedict XVI, explored the theme of faith. "Laudato Si’" (2015) addressed environmental concerns and the need to care for creation, while "Fratelli Tutti" (2020) called for global solidarity and fraternity in the face of social division and conflict.
The new encyclical will be presented at a press conference at the Vatican by Archbishop Bruno Forte and Sister Antonella Fraccaro. With this document, Pope Francis invites the world to rediscover the transformative power of love and the heart’s profound role in human and divine relationships.