New encyclical “simple and effective remedy” for many societal problems, say US bishops

NEW YORK – With the encyclical Dilexit noThe head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops says Pope Francis has offered a “simple and effective” remedy for many of the problems plaguing modern society.

“The ills of modern society can read like a litany of incurable diseases: consumerism, secularism, partisanism. Today, Pope Francis offers a simple and effective remedy: The Sacred Heart of Jesus,” Archbishop Timothy Broglio said in an Oct. 24 statement. “In his latest encyclical Dilexit noThe Holy Father teaches us that devotion to the Heart of Jesus can open our own hearts to new ways of loving and being loved.”

“We need this timely advice,” said Broglio, the archdiocesan director of military services in the United States.

Pope Francis published Dilexit no (“He Loved Us”) on October 24th. The 28,000-word encyclical, the pope's fourth, focuses on the human and divine love of Jesus Christ and emphasizes the social dimension of Christ's love and care for others as an extension of a personal, intimate love relationship with God.

Devotion to the Heart of Jesus, Broglio said, creates an encounter with the living Heart of Jesus and has the power to “bring us together as children of God.”

“Pope Francis writes: 'In the end, love is the only reality that can unite.' That's why he says, 'We all need to rediscover the meaning of the heart,'” Broglio said, adding that the Holy Father's message reinforces a message from the National Eucharistic Revival that “in the Eucharist we discover 'the immeasurable love of the heart.' .'the heart of Christ.'”

With the new encyclical, Broglio also invites Catholics to pray.

“As he writes, 'Jesus is now waiting for you to give him the chance to bring light into your life,'” Broglio said. “Then share that light in service to others. “Speak about Christ, through testimony or through words, so that others will strive to love him,” Pope Francis encourages us.”

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