DEUS CARITAS EST: The First Leaks

"God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God, and God in him.' These words from the letter of St. John express with singular clarity the center of the Christian faith, the Christian imagination of God, and also the vision of man and of his path which proceed from it."

According to news sources in Rome, these are the first words of Benedict XVI's first Encyclical Letter, Deus Caritas Est, slated for release later this week, "entirely dedicated to the concept of Christian love and charity," ANSA says.

The agency further reports that the letter, running in the area of 50 pages, is subdivided into two parts. "The unity of love, of creation, and salvation history," is part one, "Caritas" as "exercise of love on the part of the Church," is part two. "In the last chapter, Benedict XVI insists on the concept of 'amore-caritas' and its link to lay and Catholic charitable organizations." ANSA says. "

"The dual-name 'amore-caritas' -- the Pope observes -- will always be ever more necessary 'in a more just society.' He then says that these activities must be disconnected and independent of parties and ideologies...."

More excerpts and analysis here, courtesy ANSA.

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