The Love of God as a Gift and a Commandment in the Light of the Encyclical "Deus caritas est" by Benedict XVI

Abstract

Love, which according to Pope Benedict XVI is the essence of Christianity, must be re–presented (presented anew) today, because God loves everyone without exception. The message of divine love must also be properly explained. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to present theological and moral truth about God who loves and is love in the light of the teaching of Pope Benedict XVI contained in the encyclical Deus caritas est. The work shows reciprocal love of God and man, with particular emphasis on the priority of God’s love. The issue of human response to God’s love, which finds its fulfillment in the commandment of love, is further illustrated. Moreover, the relationship between the love of God and the love of neighbor, which have always been interpreted together, has been presented.