Light of Faith – first encyclical of Pope Francis

“The Light of Faith, this is how the Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Christ says of himself: “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes me may not remain in darkness” (John 12:46). Saint Paul uses the same image: “God, who said ‘Let light shine out of the darkness’, has shone in our hearts” (2Corinthians 4:6).”

This encyclical presents to the faithful a teaching on faith in the Year of Faith, proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. In the encyclical, Pope Francis writes that this text had been prepared by Pope Benedict and in publishing it during his own pontificate, he has adopted the first draft of the text of his predecessor and added “a few contributions” of his own.

“Light of faith” follows the three encyclicals of Pope Benedict, “God is Love” (2005), “Hope in salvation” (2007) and “Charity in Truth” (2009) and is in continuity with them. However, it is not just an expression of the continuity within the thought of Pope Benedict but also the continuity between him and his successor, Pope Francis.

This encyclical is surely a unique contribution to the Magisterium of the Church, penned as it is by two Pontiffs into a seamless text which helps us deepen our faith and the understanding of our vocation as men and women of faith in the modern world.

Read the encyclical here