Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us), released on October 24, 2024, is Pope Francis’ fourth encyclical. Its incipit, or opening phrase, Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us) is drawn from Romans 8:37, where St. Paul proclaims that nothing can ever separate us from Christ’s love.
Since 1899, four papal encyclicals and numerous papal texts have been dedicated to the Sacred Heart, each ranging from 2,000 to 13,000 words. Comparatively, this 28,000-word encyclical is notably lengthy, with 227 footnotes not counting the numerous scripture references. Citing previous popes, authors, and saints like St. Ignatius, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Charles de Foucauld, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux, it’s clear Pope Francis has done a thorough homework for this deeply significant topic.
In June this year, the month the Church traditionally dedicates to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Pope declared his intention to release a document on this devotion in the autumn hoping to “illuminate the path of ecclesial renewal but also to say something significant to a world that seems to have lost its heart.”
THE CLEVER TIMING OF ITS RELEASE
In a surprise move, Pope Francis released Dilexit Nos, his latest encyclical, just as the Synod on Synodality was drawing to a close. This timing is no coincidence. The Pope is urging us to grasp the deeper purpose behind the synodality conversations. Many Catholics, following the synod, have been asking, “What changes will this synod bring to the Church?” Yet, through Dilexit Nos, Pope Francis redirects the question back to us: it is OUR hearts that need transforming, aligning with the Sacred Heart of Jesus to become more like His.
At the encyclical’s unveiling on October 24, Archbishop Bruno Forte called the encyclical the ‘compendium’ and ‘key’ to understanding Pope Francis’ pontificate. While some critics argue that Pope Francis’ papacy has been too social, neglecting the theological thrust, Archbishop Forte emphasized that Dilexit Nos lays bare the spiritual core behind the Holy Father’s 12-year pontificate.
What follows are highlights of the encyclical’s five chapters.
Br Sunil Britto CFC
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