VATICAN CITY. In his latest encyclical, Dilexit Nos (“He Loves Us”), Pope Francis condemned a world that he says is “losing its heart,” marked by ongoing wars, rising socio-economic disparities, and technological advancements that he believes undermine humanity. Released on Thursday to coincide with the 350th anniversary of the first apparition of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, which initiated the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the 220-paragraph document calls on the faithful to meditate on Jesus’ love as a remedy in an increasingly consumer-driven and digital world.
“The failure to feel that something is intolerable in the suffering on both sides of conflict is a sign of a world that has grown heartless,” Pope Francis wrote. Reflecting on recent events, he observed that “when we witness the outbreak of new wars, with the complicity, tolerance or indifference of other countries, or petty power struggles over partisan interests, we may be tempted to conclude that our world is losing its heart.’’
While the encyclical does not specify ongoing crises, Francis often references conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza in his addresses, asking for prayers for “martyred” communities and calling out “inhumane attacks” in the Middle East. In these situations, he has maintained a balanced perspective, acknowledging the suffering of all sides, including hostages and civilians.
In Dilexit Nos, Francis also highlights the dangers of consumerism and technology, particularly algorithms, warning that “our thoughts and will are much more ‘uniform’ than we had previously thought,” leaving people vulnerable to manipulation. The Pope urged a return to an “interior life,” noting that it is “dominated by the hectic pace and bombarded by technology,” often obstructing true contemplation and love.
Addressing the encyclical’s significance, Archbishop Bruno Forte remarked, “Dilexit Nos can be truly considered a summary of everything that Pope Francis has said and wishes to say to our brothers in humanity. He says, ‘God loves you and has shown you in the best way, through Jesus.’” Monsignor Forte added that the document should be seen not only as a spiritual guide but as a “proposal of love, mutual reception, and forgiveness.”
The Dilexit Nos encyclical is Pope Francis’s fourth major teaching, joining his widely recognized 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, which framed environmental stewardship as a moral obligation. With Dilexit Nos, Pope Francis again calls for reflection, urging the world to embrace compassion over consumerism and community over division.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
