Deus Caritas Est: on Christian love

SummaryPope Benedict XVI's 2005 encyclical letter, Deus Caritas Est, expounds on Christian love. The first part philosophically explores the nature of love, contrasting eros and agape and showing how they are ultimately united in God's love. The second part focuses on the Church's role in charity, emphasizing its importance as an integral part of the Church's mission alongside preaching and the sacraments, while addressing concerns about the relationship between charity and justice. The encyclical concludes by highlighting the importance of prayer and the exemplary lives of saints in living out Christian love.