Today marks the release of Dilexit nos (“He Loved Us”), Pope Francis’ fourth encyclical, and it is clear that this document arrives at a pivotal moment. Global crises, including war in Europe and the Middle East, economic disparity, and a loss of focus on what truly matters, have left many searching for deeper meaning. In this encyclical, Pope Francis invites us to rediscover the heart — both human and divine — through the lens of Christ’s Sacred Heart.
In the spirit of the new encyclical, we’ve gathered eight profound quotes from Pope Francis on the nature of God’s love and the Sacred Heart, each offering a glimpse into the boundless mercy and compassion found in the heart of Jesus, a source of healing and transformation for all.
1. Announcing the new encyclical
“I am pleased to prepare a document that brings together the precious reflections of previous Magisterial texts and a long history that goes back to the Sacred Scriptures, in order to re-propose today, to the whole Church, this devotion imbued with spiritual beauty. I believe it will do us great good to meditate on various aspects of the Lord’s love, which can illuminate the path of ecclesial renewal, and say something meaningful to a world that seems to have lost its heart.”
— Appeal, Angelus, June 5, 2024
2. The Sacred Heart calls us to return
“To remember [in Italian, ricordare], means ‘to return to the heart, to return with the heart’. Ri-cordare. What does the Sacred Heart of Jesus make us return to? To what He did for us: the Heart of Christ shows us Jesus who offers Himself, it is the compendium of his mercy.”
— Homily, Nov. 5, 2021
3. A symbol of real love
“Popular piety highly values symbols, and the Heart of Jesus is the ultimate symbol of God’s mercy. But it is not an imaginary symbol; it is a real symbol which represents the centre, the source from which salvation flowed for all of humanity.”
— Angelus, June 9, 2013
4. No joy without love
“Try to make time to keep in touch with what is going on inside you, to appreciate the gift that you are, to take hold of your life and not let it slip through your fingers. Do not be ‘tourists of life’, who only see it from the outside, who only see the surface of things. In silence, following the rhythm of your heart, talk to God. Tell him about yourself and the people you meet each day, those he has given you as companions on your journey. Bring him their faces, their joys and sorrows, for there is no prayer without relationships, just as there is no joy without love.”
— Address, Nov. 5, 2022
5. The humility of Jesus
“This love, this steadfastness of the Lord manifests the humility of His heart: Jesus did not come to conquer men like the kings and the powerful of this world, but He came to offer love with gentleness and humility. This is how He defined himself: ‘learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart’ (Mt 11:29).”
— Homily, June 27, 2014
6. Making reparation for those who stray
“Herein lies the secret of a credible and effective proclamation: allowing, like Jesus, the word ‘love’ to be written upon our flesh, that is, in the concreteness of our actions. And to do this with tenacity, steadfast in the face of searing judgments, distressing problems and the malice that pains our hearts; to do so tirelessly, with inexhaustible affection for every brother and sister, in solidarity with Christ the Redeemer in his desire to make reparation for the sins of all humanity. In solidarity with the Lord, crucified and risen, who, in the face of those who suffer, those who err, and those who do not believe, calls not for judgment but for love and tears for those who have strayed, [in order] to trust completely in God.”
— Address, June 27, 2024
7. The two criteria of love
“Jesus wanted to show us his heart as the heart that loved so deeply. This is why we have this commemoration today, especially of God’s love. God loved us, he loved us with such great love. I am thinking of what St Ignatius told us. … He pointed out two criteria on love. The first: love is expressed more clearly in actions than in words. The second: there is greater love in giving than in receiving.”
8. God never withdraws his love
“It should be fixed in our hearts that God never withdraws his love from us. ‘But is he Father even when I have done something serious?’ God never withdraws his love from you. This can sometimes seem ‘unjust,’ when we are faced with the experience of evil. This is because we simply apply an earthly justice that says, ‘Whoever does wrong must pay.’ Yet God’s justice is greater: those who have done wrong are called to right their wrongs. But they need God’s merciful love to heal their hearts. Do not forget: God forgives everything. God always forgives and it is through his mercy that God justifies us; he makes us righteous by giving us a new heart, a new life.”
— Address, Sept. 28, 2024
