The Conjugal communio amoris in the Apostolic Exhortations Familiaris Consortio and Amoris Laetitia

Abstract

The concept of marital communio amoris expressed in the apostolic exhortations Familiaris Consortio of John Paul II and Amoris Laetitia of Pope Francis is the subject of this paper. In theology, this phrase has generally been used to describe the relationship of the Divine Persons in the Trinity. The phrase communio amoris in relation to marriage and family comes from the theological thought of John Paul II. The Pope used this term several times in the exhortation. An important issue is the reference of the phrase “communion of love” to spouses entering into a sacramental union. Pope Francis, although he uses the phrase to refer to Trinitarian relationships, does not explicitly use this expression to refer to marital relationships. Communio amoris, however, can be read into the concept of marital love presented in Amoris Laetitia.