Venice, Fla., Feb 26, 2016 / 05:40 am
Pope Francis marked the 10th anniversary of Benedict XVI's encyclical "Deus Caritas Est" by telling participants in a conference commemorating the document that not only is love God's identity, but it's also the very heart and life of the Church.
"God does not simply have the desire or capacity to love; God is love: charity is his essence, it is his nature," the Pope said Feb. 26.
He said that while God is unique, he's "not solitary; he cannot be alone, he cannot be closed in on himself because he is communion, he is charity; and charity by its nature is communicated and shared."
Pope Francis spoke to participants in a Feb. 25-26 conference celebrating the 10th anniversary of the publication of retired pontiff Benedict XVI's first encyclical, "Deus Caritas Est," meaning "God is love."