God's love reveals truth, Pope says in message to Pontifical Academies

January 29, 2014

“Faith knows because it is tied to love, because love itself brings light.” Pope Francis made that point in his message of the 18th public session of the Pontifical Academies, held at the Vatican on January 28.

The theme of the public session was “Reading Truth with the Eyes of Christ,” and the Pontiff explored that theme in his message, which was read at the meeting by Archbishop Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State.

Pope Francis pointed out that in both his encyclical Lumen Fidei and his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, he encouraged “reflect on the enlightening dimension of faith and on the connection between faith and truth, to be investigated not only with the mind's eye, but also that of the heart, that is, from the perspective of love.” The wisdom gained through faith, he said, is “that which is born when we receive God's great love which transforms us within and gives us new eyes through which we see reality.”

Many people today shy away from the concept of an objective truth. But if truth is seen as the result of a “personal encounter with the Other,” then it is not purely subjective, and can be seen as a facet of the common good, the Pope said.

 

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Further information:

• Pope’s Message to the Pontifical Academies: Faith Knows Because It Is Tied to Love (VIS)