Another Francis encyclical. Is there a revolution in moral theology?

What will Pope Francis tell the Church in his fresh encyclical about God’s love? Light can cast on this a little-known documentary by Jorge Mario Bergoglia of October 2023, which contained many very extremist statements about moral theology.

On Thursday 24 October, the Holy See will print the 4th encyclical of Pope Francis, “Dilexit nos”, or “Loved us”. The reason for the paper is the 350th anniversary of the apparitions of Margaret Maria Alacoque, which gave emergence to the cult of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The full title of the paper is "Dilexit Nose – an encyclical about the human and divine love of the heart of Jesus Christ". But it will not be a purely devout text, at least. Pope Francis announced his preparation in June of this year and pointed out that he wanted specified a reflection on God's love for a man who would shed light on the process of renewal of the Church. As the encyclical will appear 2 days before the Synod of Synod on Synodality is completed, it can be assumed that Francis' intention is to focus the implementation of synod results. As the Vatican press services announced, the paper will be based on teaching the Church, including the erstwhile texts of the pope from Argentina.

It is so worth recalling the content of a very akin text, which went without much echo. It is the Apostolic Adhortation of October 2023, published under the French title “C’est la confiance”, that is, “Behold, trust”. Adhoration was made on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of St Teresa St Teresa from the kid Jesus and the Most Holy Count. In that text, starting with the issue of God's love, Pope Francis proposed a deep reshaping of moral theology. Although his paper was almost widely ignored, it mattered. The ideas presented in “C’est la confiance” paved the way for the publication of the doctrinal declaration “Fiducia supplicans” on the blessing of LGBT couples.

Why? In the “C’est la confiance”, Jorge Mario Bergoglio presented a imagination of the Church, which does not peculiarly care about many moral issues, considered secondary from above. The Pope did not point out which issues are involved, but the apparent context is the ongoing discussions on issues specified as homosexuality, divorce or contraception.

In point 47, Francis virtually wrote: “Not everything is equally central due to the fact that there is order or hierarchy between the truths of the Church and “this applies both to dogmas of religion and to the full teaching of the Church, including moral teaching”. At the heart of Christian morality is love, which is the answer to the unconditional love of the Holy Trinity, which makes “the works of love toward neighbour a more perfect outward expression of the interior grace of the Spirit”.

Ultimately, only love matters.” In point 49 he added: “[...] although all the teachings and norms of the Church have their meaning, their value, their light, any of which are more urgent and more constitutional for Christian life.” Finally, in point 52, he stated: “At the time of the complications, she [scal]. Teresa] can aid us to rediscover simplicity, the absolute primacy of love, trust and trust in God, overcoming the legalistic and ethical logic that fulfills Christian life with obligations and commandments, and freezes the joy of the Gospel.”

In another words, the end of “legislism” and “ethical logic of responsibilities,” due to the fact that it “frees” the joy of the Gospel. On this, it must not be amazing either to let divorcees to enter Holy Communion or to let Protestants surviving in matrimony to Catholics to enter the Eucharist, nor to even bless LGBT couples. All moral or even doctrinal “obstacles” appear to be “secondary” in the face of God’s mercy and Gospel joy.

It can be expected that the encyclical "Dilexit nos" will take up the same themes; due to the greater importance of the paper this time it will not be ignored and can importantly influence the knowing of synod discussions and the decision-making by individual bishops in the moral issues discussed today. With beautiful apparent consequences...

Paweł Chmielewski

Read more about “C’est la confiance” here:

The Pope's fresh document. The nail to the coffin of moral theology