The Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ

Dilexit Nos (“He Loved Us”) is an encyclical issued by Pope Francis on October 24, 2024, during the 12th year of his pontificate. In this document, the Pope invites us to deepen our devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, highlighting its transformative power for personal spirituality and the Church’s mission to serve a divided, materialistic, and heartbroken world. Pope Francis reflects on the significance of the heart as a symbol of divine love, especially through devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: “Let us turn, then, to the heart of Christ, that core of his being, which is a blazing furnace of divine and human love and the most sublime fulfilment to which humanity can aspire. In that heart, we truly come at last to know ourselves and learn how to love”. He emphasizes that the heart represents the core of human identity and sincerity, much more than just a physical organ. It is where our desires, decisions, and relationships are formed. Without the heart, modern society becomes alienated, preoccupied with technology and distractions, losing sight of the deeper heart-level questions of life: “Who am I? What direction do I want for my life?” The Pope invites us to reengage with our hearts, seeing them as the foundation for spiritual growth, authentic relationships, and societal renewal. Christ's intense love for humanity is seen through some Saints such as Margaret Mary Alacoque. Christ’s Sacred Heart burns with love but often meets indifference. His cry, “I thirst,” is a plea for love in return, especially through the Eucharist. Francis calls the faithful to respond to this divine love not out of obligation but out of a deep desire to console Christ’s heart.