Lumen fidei
Lumen Fidei to dt light of faith, is the first encyclical of Pope Francis. With it, a common two popes encyclical was on June 29, 2013, for the first time in the history of the Roman Catholic Church published. The 82 -page treatise is based on a commenced but not completed encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI emeritus. The encyclical was signed only by Francis.
On 5 July 2013, the encyclical was introduced in the Vatican audience hall in the following languages : Latin, German, Italian, English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
Central statement
The central message of Scripture teaching is that Christian faith must necessarily have consequences for the actions of Christians in society. Faith can and should the " enrich human life in all its dimensions. " Francis encourages faith " to put in the actual service of justice, justice and peace. " Next Christians should for human dignity, protection of marriage and family, respect for creation and for peace and equitable forms of government arise. For this purpose it was necessary that " regain the light of faith [ even though the belief ] 'll often referred to in modern society as irrational, useless and deceptive and threatens to obscure. " Faith and reason stood " not inconsistent " with each other.
Joint authorship
Pope Benedict called 2013 the year of faith, that is to a year of intense reflection on faith, "especially in a moment of profound change ." As Benedict XVI. resigned and his fourth encyclical, which should deal with the issue of faith, could not accomplish his successor Francis offered to him: "Then we just write an encyclical to four hands." "In the brotherhood in Christ, I accept his valuable work and fill the text with some more contributions," Francis is quoted by the news magazine Der Spiegel.
Father Bernd Hagenkord, editorial director of the German program at Vatican Radio, said: " Pope Francis has taken up the text, he says it so literally in the encyclical. He has added a few things. His own things. But he is very grateful that he has found a text and completed the project of encyclicals on the theological virtues ".
Appreciation
As " a happy coincidence " means the chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, " that this text, if you will, the spring comes from two Popes ". Zollitsch praised it as " remarkable sign that Pope Francis has taken the elaboration in substance with all the variety of people and charisms involved generously [ ... ]. " The Protestant Bishop in Braunschweig, Friedrich Weber, Catholica - Beauftrager VELKD, described the encyclical against the Catholic News Agency as the central document of the Christian world and as " resilient foundation for future joint work ."
Formal structure
After a brief introduction, there is the Encyclical of four chapters:
- WE HAVE THE FAITH LOVE ACCEPTED
- THINK YOUR NOT, SO YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND
- I WILL DELIVER YOU WHAT I HAVE RECEIVED
- GOD PREPARES FOR A CITY
These have 4 -6 each subchapter.
Book editions
- Pope Francis I.: Lumen Fidei - the light of faith. Benno, Leipzig, 2013, ISBN 978-3-7462-3652-0, DNB 1029062463rd
- Pope Francis I., Labardakis, Augoustinos (ed.): The light of faith: the encyclical " lumen fidei ". Herder, Freiburg, 2013, ISBN 978-3-451-33457-3, 1036104656 DNB ( Ecumenical commented on Metro Augoustinos of Germany, Nikolaus Schneider and Archbishop Robert Zollitsch ).