‘Dilexit nos’: Pope to publish encyclical on Sacred Heart of Jesus

By Salvatore Cernuzio

“Dilexit nos” (He loved us) will be Pope Francis’ fourth encyclical, and it comes at a time of profound global challenges.

Today’s world is marked by war, social and economic imbalances, endemic consumerism and technologies that threaten to harm human nature.

With this document, Pope Francis will call for a change of perspective, urging humanity to rediscover what is most essential: the heart.

The Pope’s announcement

The full title of the encyclical, “Dilexit Nos – Encyclical Letter on the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ”, was confirmed today by the Vatican Press Room, scheduled for release on October 24.

The Pope had already announced his intention to publish the document during his general audience on June 5 in St. Peter’s Square, during the month traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart.

At the time, Pope Francis expressed the hope that the text would invite reflection on aspects of the Lord’s love that could illuminate the path to ecclesial renewal and find significant resonance with “a world that seems to have lost his heart.”

He also noted that the encyclical would incorporate reflections on previous magisterial teachings and the rich tradition of Scripture, thereby reintroducing the Church to this spiritually deep devotion.

The apparitions of 1673

The publication of the encyclical coincides with ongoing celebrations commemorating the 350th anniversary of the first apparition of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673.

On December 27 of the same year, Jesus appeared to the young 26-year-old French Visitress, entrusting her with the mission of spreading his love, particularly towards sinners. These apparitions, which took place at the convent of Paray-le-Monial in Burgundy, continued for 17 years.

Christ showed his heart surrounded by flames and surrounded by a crown of thorns, symbolizing the wounds inflicted by human sin. He asked that the Friday following Corpus Christi be dedicated to the Sacred Heart. Although initially misunderstood by many, including her fellow nuns, Saint Margaret Mary remained steadfast in her mission to reveal the love of Christ to the world.

Pope Pius XII Haurietis Aquas

In 1956, Pope Pius XII published Haurietis Aquasan encyclical aimed at reviving devotion in a time of decline. Pope Pius emphasized the importance of devotion to the needs of the Church and its potential as a “banner of salvation” for the modern world.

Pope Benedict XVI, in a letter commemorating the 50th anniversary of Haurietis Aquasreinforced this feeling by saying: “This mystery of God’s love for us is not only the content of devotion to the Heart of Jesus; it is also at the heart of all true Christian spirituality.

The devotion of Pope Francis

Pope Francis has always demonstrated a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart, often linking it to the priestly mission. In 2016, he concluded the Jubilee of Priests on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, exhorting priests to direct their hearts, like the Good Shepherd, towards the lost and the distant.

During the same Jubilee, in its first Meditations on MercyFrancis recommended bishops and priests to revisit Haurietis Aquasnoting that “the heart of Christ is the center of mercy. This is the nature of mercy: it gets its hands dirty, it touches, it engages and it involves others.

The Pope’s Fourth Encyclical

Dilexit nos will be the fourth encyclical of Pope Francis, after Faithful lumen (June 29, 2013), co-written with Benedict XVI; Laudato si’ (May 24, 2015), on the environmental crisis and the need to care for creation; And Fratelli tutti (October 3, 2020), which calls for global brotherhood and social friendship in a world fractured by a pandemic and conflicts, including wars fought in the name of God.

Dilexit nos will be presented at the Vatican Press Room on October 24 by Mgr Bruno Forte, theologian and archbishop of Chieti-Vasto, alongside Sister Antonella Fraccaro, Superior General of the Disciples of the Gospel.