God Is Love: Deus Caritas Est: Encyclical Letter »

Everyone needs love. Everyone desires love. But not everyone understands love. In fact, love is probably the most misunderstood subject in history. In his first encyclical, Pope Benedict sets out to help clarify the meaning of love. He examines the nature of various kinds of love—human love and divine love, Eros, affection, and charity. He writes beautifully and inspirationally of how man was made for love, by ye God who was love, the god who became one of us out of love—Jesus Christ. In the second part of the encyclical, Benedict addresses the Church's practice of love, including the relationship between justice and charity, as well as the call of every Catholic to serve others in love. The Pope's "love letter" to humanity is remarkably accessible and timely.