Pope Francis issued a new pastoral letter on Thursday in which he urged Roman Catholics around the world to let go of consumerism and individualism, and rediscover the importance of opening up to others.
The letter, known as an encyclical, was Francis’ fourth in his 11 years as pope. Titled “He Loved Us,” the missive is less political than his groundbreaking 2015 encyclical, in which he called for urgent action to protect the environment. The latest letter reflects his deeply held and often reiterated conviction that superficiality, capitalism and a single-minded focus on the individual are distracting people from finding deeper meaning in today’s hectic societies.
He also laments the continued outbreak of conflicts around the world.
Here is what to know about Francis’ latest encyclical.
What are encyclicals, and why are they important to Catholics?
Encyclicals are open letters to bishops and pastors that are considered the most authoritative form of papal teaching. They address issues of faith and morality, and are aimed at helping Catholics face the challenges of a changing world.
Experts say the letters should be interpreted as teachings in which a pope analyzes current dynamics and offers answers inspired by the gospels.
What does this encyclical say?
In “He Loved Us,” Francis draws on sources that include the Gospels, saints and the 20th-century German philosopher Martin Heidegger.
The pope writes in the pastoral letter that an excessive focus on rationality, technology, “unhealthy individualism,” market dynamics, cellphones and social media has distracted people from what he calls “the importance of the heart” — opening up to others and finding peace and true meaning in life.
He voices scathing criticism of modern “societies of serial consumers who live from day to day, dominated by the hectic pace and bombarded by technology, lacking in the patience needed to engage in the processes that an interior life by its very nature requires.”
And he argues that the outbreak of new wars, “with the complicity, tolerance or indifference of other countries,” is a sign “that our world is losing its heart.”
Given that much of the document focuses on spiritual themes instead of mainly political or social issues, Archbishop Bruno Forte told a news conference at the Vatican on Thursday that the encyclical was not an effort to avoid addressing the world’s “current challenges,” but rather a “proposal” that the Gospels offer in the face of contemporary problems.
What did Francis’ other encyclicals say?
Francis released his first encyclical, “The Light of Faith,” in June 2013, three months after his election as pope. Written with his predecessor, Benedict XVI, it called on believers to explore how God can enrich their lives.
Francis’ best-known encyclical was “Praise Be to You,” which he issued in 2015. In that document, he warned of an “unprecedented destruction of ecosystems” and framed environmental concerns as a moral and spiritual matter rather than a political or economic one.
“Praise Be to You” described environmental exploitation that has put the world’s poorest people at greatest risk, placing blame on the pursuit of profit, political shortsightedness and faith in technology. It attracted attention from environmentalists, scientists and executives, and plaudits from some world leaders.
In 2020, with “Brothers All,” Francis criticized the failures of global cooperation in response to the coronavirus pandemic. This encyclical touched on many of the issues he holds most dear, including a call for closeness to marginalized people and support for migrants.
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