Pope Leo Writes Foreword to Updated 'YOUCAT: Love Forever'

4:08 PM ETDeveloping

Faith Desk

In Short: Pope Leo XIV penned a new foreword for the updated edition of 'YOUCAT: Love Forever,' a book on love and relationships aimed at young Catholics.

Pope Leo XIV wrote a new foreword for the updated edition of 'YOUCAT: Love Forever,' a book on love and relationships aimed at young Catholics, published Oct. 6.

In the foreword, Pope Leo emphasized that true love is a deep, self-sacrificing commitment, not just an intense feeling or romantic attraction.

He wrote, 'Your heart longs for love. A love that is deep, self-sacrificing and enduring. This longing is no accident. It is a sign that you are made for love.'

Pope Leo also highlighted the importance of mutual trust and the willingness to embrace a lifelong commitment in lasting relationships.

The book, published by Ignatius Press in English, is part of the YOUCAT series, which presents Catholic teaching in a Q&A format accessible to young people.

The new edition includes a foreword by Pope Leo and an epilogue by the late Pope Francis.

The book aims to guide young adults, engaged couples, newly married couples, pastoral workers, mentors, and catechists in understanding authentic love and commitment.

The foreword was published ahead of a weeklong Vatican meeting focusing on marriage and family, marking the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation 'Amoris Laetitia,' or 'The Joy of Love.'

Pope Leo encouraged young people to embrace the vocation to love, stating, 'God calls you, dear young people, to this great love. Do not be afraid of its depth.'

The book's development involved contributions from young Catholics, marriage mentors, priests, and theologians from more than 30 countries, ensuring it has official Church approval.

What this adds

The book's first edition, published in May, included a foreword by Pope Francis.

What's still developing

The pope’s words on love and marriage were published by Vatican News on the eve of the start of a weeklong meeting at the Vatican of the presidents of the world’s Catholic bishops’ conferences and the heads of the 21 Eastern Catholic churches.
“Love asks first: ‘How can I love as Christ loved?’ (cf. Jn 15:12) and puts the question ‘What do I get out of it?’ last,” Pope Leo wrote.
“May you, like Mary, the Mother of beautiful love, respond with trust and courage to the most beautiful of all vocations: the vocation to love,” he said.
“When a man and a woman give themselves wholly to one another in love, then God comes alive in their midst,” the pope underscored.

Sources

OSV Newslink